Lads and Lasses, settle down now. 2 years ago Mr. Humpty informed me that I must shut the pub at 2300 hrs on New Years Eve. Without further ado I put notices up in the pub to this effect, the result was as follows:
At 2245 hrs I had 15 people in the pub because everyone else had made arrangements to spend New Year elsewhere. By 2330 we had washed up, shut up, and were upstairs watching TV. this was a nice own goal by boy wonder.
On the Christmas Day as only myself and the missus were working, we did a good trade and got a pasting for two and a half hours (1200-1430) we then washed up, last customer out about 1515, got the pub ready for Boxing Day opening, then went upstairs for the rest of the day.
You people are quite right, you will not get people out at midnight. What you will get is people taking bloody ages to sup up and clear off. The result in pestering people to do just that can only result in fallouts or assault. The best bet is last orders at 2300 giving an hour to down the drinks. If you take this avenue, then advertise your last orders time and give a good shout around the pub about 2250hrs.
I think that you will find that most will sup up and clear off to the nearest boozer for further drinks thus making life easier for yourselves to get glasses in and washed. To customers reading this who may think that this is a little selfish, please be aware that this is purely to avoid confrontation with well lubricated customers at midnight.
Smiffy himself has put his staff on the frontline pending abuse.
