Is This Seat Taken?

2 Minute Read

“So…what are your thoughts on arable farming?”

Cue awkward silence. Research shows that over a third of Brits wouldn’t know how to strike up a conversation with a stranger. And fair enough - it can be an overwhelming experience finding common ground with someone you’ve never met before. Which is where we come in. Because sometimes we all just need a gentle shove in the right direction.

We’re introducing uniquely designed stools to nine pubs across the UK. The stools basically act as a physical, 4-legged ice-breaker. Meaning that if you want to sit down, you’ll need to introduce yourself to the table and give everyone a good old-fashioned British CHEERS. And then just sit back and watch the ice break left, right and centre…

And sure, that might feel hard at first, sure you might get your own name wrong, sure you might shout ‘CHAIRS’ instead of ‘CHEERS’. BUT we believe in bringing people together. Because who knows, a beautiful friendship could be just around the corner.

And maybe they do have strong, long-held views about arable farming. And maybe they do have some great anecdotes about crop rotation. There’s only one way to find out…

For more tips on how to talk to strangers, read our other blog.

How To Talk To Strangers

Find your seat

Check out the list and map below to find participating pubs near you.

The Kings Arms, 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN
Barony Bar, 81-85 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3RJ
The Eagle, 125 Gloucester Road, Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1 4AF
Preston Park Tavern, 88 Havelock Road, Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1 6GF
McHuills, 80 High St, Glasgow G1 1NL
Clissord Park Tavern, 177 Green Lanes, London N16 9DB
The Regent, 201-203 Liverpool Rd, London N1 1LX
The Lauriston, 162 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7JN
Theatreship, South Quay Plaza, Theatreship, London E14 9SH

Full T&Cs Here

FAQs

From August 20th 2024 to September 20th 2024.

No purchase is necessary to participate. You simply need to locate an empty Beavertown “Is This Seat Taken?” stool in one of the participating pubs and ask if the seat is available / taken.

You're under no obligation to allow someone to join your table. If you're not comfortable with someone joining, you can politely decline and say the seat is taken or that you prefer to keep your group as is.

The list of the ten participating pubs across the UK can be found on the map above.

Your comfort and safety are our top priorities. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you can politely end the interaction and / or inform the pub staff immediately.

Respect is key to this campaign. If the people at the table indicate they're not interested in interacting, simply thank them for their time and move on. No one is obligated to engage in conversation or cheers if they don't want to.

We've put several measures in place to ensure a safe and respectful environment:

Clear guidelines are provided on table talkers explaining the promotion and emphasising respect and consent.
Pub staff are trained to monitor interactions and intervene if necessary.
Participants are encouraged to report any concerns to pub staff immediately.
Intoxicated or disruptive behaviour will be addressed according to each pub's standard conduct policies.
The campaign emphasises genuine friendliness and respect in all interactions.

If you experience or witness such behaviour, please report it to the pub staff immediately.

Absolutely. You can end any interaction at any time if you feel uncomfortable or simply wish to return to your original group. Your comfort and enjoyment are paramount.

We’ve designed this campaign with safety and respect as top priorities. Participants are encouraged to respect boundaries, accept declines gracefully, and engage only in welcome interactions. Pub staff will remain vigilant and intervene if any unwanted attention occurs. We ask all participants to prioritise mutual comfort and respect throughout the promotion.

You do not need to drink alcohol to participate in the campaign. The goal is to foster social connections, and you are welcome to join in with any beverage of your choice. The important part is the interaction and the shared experience.

We’d love to hear about your experience! You can share your stories and photos on social media using the campaign hashtag #IsThisSeatTaken and tag Beavertown. Additionally, some pubs may have feedback forms where you can share your thoughts directly.

If the pub is particularly busy and you can’t find an available stool, we encourage you to check back later or on another day. The campaign runs for a month, giving plenty of opportunities to participate.

Absolutely! You are welcome to participate as many times as you like during the campaign period. Each interaction is a new opportunity to meet someone new and share a “cheers!”