[Will Hunt]

I generally fall foul of them when our team at work goes for lunch somewhere together. There's one near the office which has (inexplicably. There are lots of other options) become the de facto leaving lunch venue. This week it was The Dormouse in York.

They make a habit of slow service, presumably to increase drink sales while you wait interminably. It took an hour and 45 minutes to serve a main and a dessert to a table of 6 people on Monday. There were 2 other tables having food and virtually no-one at the bar.

They also used to do this thing where the waiter/ress would ask you "you can upgrade to wedges for only a pound, or you can just have the ordinary chips", with the second half of the sentence being delivered in a drawn and disgusted tone. And then when the food eventually came, if you asked for some ketchup or mayo or whatever, the great condiment tray would be brought out from it's strongbox and the server would glare at you while you timorously spooned some onto your plate, after which it would all be whisked away to be put back under lock and key.

They are not so much pubs/restaurants as Margin Optimisation Facilities, and little is done to hide the fact. They act as a metaphorical vice which serves the dual purpose of wringing money from customers while keeping them only as comfortable as necessary to avoid them standing up and leaving.

[SA Chris]

New one on me, a quick google reveals closest is Dundee, which might explain why.

[andy popp]

Those insanely bright headlights people seem to insist on having. I now have a considerable commute home once a week - two and a half hours - at night. I typically spend most of the journey half-blinded, even if I don't directly look in any of the mirrors - doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window. Over a long journey it gets incredibly tiring and stressful and they seem inescapable. Just why?

[spidermonkey09]

I generally fall foul of them when our team at work goes for lunch somewhere together. There's one near the office which has (inexplicably. There are lots of other options) become the de facto leaving lunch venue. This week it was The Dormouse in York.

It upsets me a little that the Cow and Calf pub is one of these. A location that iconic with so much passing trade should be easily runnable as a profitable independent surely? But then what do I know about running a pub.

[tommytwotone]

Those insanely bright headlights people seem to insist on having. I now have a considerable commute home once a week - two and a half hours - at night. I typically spend most of the journey half-blinded, even if I don't directly look in any of the mirrors - doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window. Over a long journey it gets incredibly tiring and stressful and they seem inescapable. Just why?

Think you've hit on the answer - I don't think the lights are brighter per se (as I'm betting there's some legal limit on luminescence on a dipped beam bulb) - it's just that more people drive SUV / crossover / Quashqai type things that sit higher on the road.

[Will Hunt]

I generally fall foul of them when our team at work goes for lunch somewhere together. There's one near the office which has (inexplicably. There are lots of other options) become the de facto leaving lunch venue. This week it was The Dormouse in York.

It upsets me a little that the Cow and Calf pub is one of these. A location that iconic with so much passing trade should be easily runnable as a profitable independent surely? But then what do I know about running a pub.

I'm sure the Cow and Calf could be run profitably as an independent, but VI may have paid a high price to get it and their margins are likely to be higher than any independent could achieve. The beer that is available, for instance, is identical across all their outlets, so the bargaining power they hold with the brewery's must be huge.

[Nutty]

Those insanely bright headlights people seem to insist on having. I now have a considerable commute home once a week - two and a half hours - at night. I typically spend most of the journey half-blinded, even if I don't directly look in any of the mirrors - doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window. Over a long journey it gets incredibly tiring and stressful and they seem inescapable. Just why?

Think you've hit on the answer - I don't think the lights are brighter per se (as I'm betting there's some legal limit on luminescence on a dipped beam bulb) - it's just that more people drive SUV / crossover / Quashqai type things that sit higher on the road.

I think the other thing with newer headlights is that they're a bluer light than old headlights which tended to be yellow-ish and the rods in the eye are more sensitive to the blue part of the spectrum.

[spidermonkey09]

I'm sure the Cow and Calf could be run profitably as an independent, but VI may have paid a high price to get it and their margins are likely to be higher than any independent could achieve. The beer that is available, for instance, is identical across all their outlets, so the bargaining power they hold with the brewery's must be huge.

Yeah...it'll never be an independent again if they're making money from it! Its funny how chain pubs vary so widely; e.g. the Spoons in Ilkley is a reasonable option for a lunchtime half (if only because its the only pub in Ilkley that has reasonable prices) but others are utterly grim. Perhaps its a perception thing; one expects something a little different in a country town/village pub and then its disappointing when its an anodyne chain clone outlet.

Incidentally, I'd have thought the Dyneley Arms is an absolute prime candidate for being bought up by Vintage Inns or similar in due course. Go while you can before it becomes a poxy carvery joint.

[Plattsy]

Those insanely bright headlights people seem to insist on having. I now have a considerable commute home once a week - two and a half hours - at night. I typically spend most of the journey half-blinded, even if I don't directly look in any of the mirrors - doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window. Over a long journey it gets incredibly tiring and stressful and they seem inescapable. Just why?

Think you've hit on the answer - I don't think the lights are brighter per se (as I'm betting there's some legal limit on luminescence on a dipped beam bulb) - it's just that more people drive SUV / crossover / Quashqai type things that sit higher on the road.

I think the other thing with newer headlights is that they're a bluer light than old headlights which tended to be yellow-ish and the rods in the eye are more sensitive to the blue part of the spectrum.

And they'll probably be some sort of tilt up n down option control and they'll be all tilted right up all the time.

On a similar note incredibly bright bicycle lights. Generally as bright as car lights these days. Not tilted down and even worse flashing away. Really blinding and distracting.

[teestub]

 e.g. the Spoons in Ilkley is a reasonable option for a lunchtime half (if only because its the only pub in Ilkley that has reasonable prices)

Only if you’re happy supporting the shitty business practices of the owner, did you enjoy the brexit beer mats?

Dyneley is Sam Smiths so won’t be being purchased by anyone else in a hurry.

[spidermonkey09]

Yeah you're dead right. That bloke is an arsehole. Sometimes needs must but I certainly don't make a habit of frequenting them! Some Wetherspoons staff are on strike today so even more reason to avoid.

Oh yeah, thats right. I remember having never heard of anything in there when I last went which is always a nice change.

[Will Hunt]

The Dyneley is prime for it I think. The management there is appaling. Food gets brought out of the freezer, warmed up, and shoved out the door. Nothing is too little trouble for the staff, who are negligent to the point of rudeness. I organised a BMC meeting style thing there once and it was made clear to me that they'd really rather not have to bother. I think this is why the BMC no longer does the area meets there. It'll get bought for buttons and once it's had the Vintage Inns treatment the punters will be queuing up to Leeds.


I come across as really fussy in these posts, but I normally have very relaxed standards about eating/drinking out; it's just that the quality of the establishments mentioned thus far is actually quite dire.

[dunnyg]

Nah, you are just a fussy bastid.

[CraigMac]

Those insanely bright headlights people seem to insist on having. I now have a considerable commute home once a week - two and a half hours - at night. I typically spend most of the journey half-blinded, even if I don't directly look in any of the mirrors - doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window. Over a long journey it gets incredibly tiring and stressful and they seem inescapable. Just why?

Have you tried the glasses with the coating to reflect UV and prevent glare? Apparently they work very well.

[lagerstarfish]

- doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window.

clearly time to get an even bigger monster pickup

[tomtom]

- doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window.

clearly time to get an even bigger monster pickup

Exactly. If everyone else has a gun, time to arm up

(note smiley!)

Incidentally - Xenon headlights are not allowed to be manually height adjustable (in the EU) cars fitted with them have to have automatic levelling (normally a ride height sensor on the rear suspension) so should not be dazzling. I'm not sure if these rules apply to the new generation of LED headlights...

[Will Hunt]

Incidentally - Xenon headlights are not allowed to be manually height adjustable (in the EU) cars fitted with them have to have automatic levelling (normally a ride height sensor on the rear suspension) so should not be dazzling. I'm not sure if these rules apply to the new generation of LED headlights...

That seems like the kind of rule that won't have been created in the States, because to do so would be a wanton infringement of freedom, and liberty and evidence of the Deep State gone power mad.

[tommytwotone]

Pretty niche headlight banter this, but having had my Fabia fail MOT with standard foggy /cloudy headlight lenses, was bracing myself for the c.£90 a side cost of replacement.

Spoke to someone who recommended having a go at them with a bit of T-Cut, and hey presto - 10 mins and a bit of elbow grease later and they were back to clear again.

[tomtom]

Incidentally - Xenon headlights are not allowed to be manually height adjustable (in the EU) cars fitted with them have to have automatic levelling (normally a ride height sensor on the rear suspension) so should not be dazzling. I'm not sure if these rules apply to the new generation of LED headlights...

That seems like the kind of rule that won't have been created in the States, because to do so would be a wanton infringement of freedom, and liberty and evidence of the Deep State gone power mad.

Exactly. Its why I voted brexit. I want to take back control of my headlights.

[tomtom]

Pretty niche headlight banter this, but having had my Fabia fail MOT with standard foggy /cloudy headlight lenses, was bracing myself for the c.£90 a side cost of replacement.

Spoke to someone who recommended having a go at them with a bit of T-Cut, and hey presto - 10 mins and a bit of elbow grease later and they were back to clear again.

You can also get lens de-fogger paste to rub on for a reasonable price. Thats probably the same as T cut - a very mild abrasive.

[Will Hunt]

Niche headlight banter. Are you reading this, Chris Craggs? THIS is why we come to UKB.

[galpinos]

Pretty niche headlight banter this, but having had my Fabia fail MOT with standard foggy /cloudy headlight lenses, was bracing myself for the c.£90 a side cost of replacement.

Spoke to someone who recommended having a go at them with a bit of T-Cut, and hey presto - 10 mins and a bit of elbow grease later and they were back to clear again.

Necessity for my van to get through it's MOT.

[galpinos]

- doesn't help they are often found on monster pickups and are thus directly at the level of the rear window.

clearly time to get an even bigger monster pickup

Exactly. If everyone else has a gun, time to arm up

(note smiley!)

Incidentally - Xenon headlights are not allowed to be manually height adjustable (in the EU) cars fitted with them have to have automatic levelling (normally a ride height sensor on the rear suspension) so should not be dazzling. I'm not sure if these rules apply to the new generation of LED headlights...

They are so poor and slow at auto levelling though. Woe betide there is a speedbump/pothole/camber in the road and everyone's blinded to kingdom come.

[tomtom]

Niche headlight banter. Are you reading this, Chris Craggs? THIS is why we come to UKB.

Fuck yeah. And how long it took Wills dinner to arrive last time he was in the pub.

ARE YOU LISTENING UKC?

[Monolith]

Wide brimmed trucker caps produced by outdoor brands. Inov8 the latest brand to get on this bandwagon. They look shit and symbolise previously underground sports becoming overly commercialised.

Yes that shows my coming of age, no I don’t care.