Solo Etiquette

[rualexander]

Stay at a hostel rather than b&b, they are the best places to meet people to socialise with.
Many have private rooms these days if you don't like dorms.

[eileithyia]

Never really bothered about the fact i was sat alone eating......
Like most on here prefer to eat earlier (much earlier) than 10pm... that's bedtime tbh.
Hostelling is or used to be the way to meet fellow travellers and have some interesting evenings, but not all hostels are open mid-week anymore...
When on the continent i used a variety of hotels, hostels, B&B accommodation, sometimes have been alone sometimes have had (not always welcome) company.
When on my own i have often gone out for a walk, poke around back streets and quaint buildings, found a park or river bank to walk along.. before getting some food.
I also read alot, so will always have a book with me on holiday.
I haven't always dined alone when touring, often there is someone who will start to chat, even if it is from another table, and when in the States, had people insist i do not dine alone but join them at their table...

[mcallaghan]

My route is documented here, there I have slightly altered it since then: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=90723

Chester (9AM Arrival - free day)
Rhyl
Bangor
Bangor (riding a loop on Anglesey)
Harlech
Machynlleth
Rhayader
Brecon
Cardiff (x3 or 4 nights - end of riding with a full weekend and then some to explore cardiff)
Chester (x 2 nights - train back to Chester midday, then one more full day in Chester before an early AM departure)

Foxyrider - that was basically how I spent my time in Ireland. Of coruse, it was extremely windy and raining virtually the whole time I was there, so there was little desire to go for a walkabout after riding in the rain all day.

I'm not the most social person in situations where I am out of my comfort zone - the act of solo touring i am comfortable with, but I have always found social situations awkward. I think I have maybe had a dozen beers in my entire life (I recently turned 30). I was never hanging out with that sort of crowd in HS or College, so never acquired a taste for beer or alcohol. I bought a bottle of whiskey in memory of my dad about three years ago. It still looks like it hasn't been opened. Maybe half-a-dozen shots is what i've managed since I bought it. Nor am I a fan of coffee...I actually pride myself that I don't need a cuppa to get me going in the morning. I know too many people who can't function until they've had a least 2 cuppas.

I do like to talk to people, though generally have a hard time initiating conversation. My bike in Ireland did draw attention from another cyclist, or at least some one who knows bike brands and that Surlys are American and a bit rarer over in Europe. Had a brief conversation before the bus came and we had to part ways. And when I was riding the Tour de Conamara, my bike drew some attention from some fellow cyclists with mini-conversations ensuing mid ride. Obviously won't have the bike with me in a Pub, so the only unusual thing about me will be my American accent (with the occasional English-pronunciation thrown in- I lived in Surrey until I was 8, and the only person in my entire family born outside of the UK).

[foxyrider]

I like a beer with my dinner but hey, if you don't drink no one will think it weird if you have a soft drink in a pub or restaurant

You are stopping at some veritable metropolii so finding a variety of eating options shouldn't be a problem!

Enjoy your visit

[Ron]

If the locals are speaking welsh, move to another pub

Only Welsh? it does limit your touring a bit if you only tour where the pub customers speak English
One of the advantages I find of touring in non English speaking areas is that you are not distracted by conversations which you just can't help overhearing when dining alone.

[thirdcrank]

You may have the idea that the pub is the social heart of the typical settlement here. While some really are thriving - and these tend to be those which have recognised the need to diversify into decent grub - plenty of pubs are dying on their feet, which is demonstrated by the rate at which they are closing. The once ubiquitous chippy is now less common, although those that remain tend to have more opening times and to sell a wider range of (deep-fried) food. Many former chip shops have been replaced by places selling more exotic stuff, of a generally oriental origin.

I'd suggest that you need a bit of recent local knowledge. With that in mind, you might consider a change of thread title to reflect that you are looking for suggestions for decent places to eat out in the evening in North Wales. (You should find something to your taste in Chester without much difficulty.)

Apart from that, IME every pub in the land which does food seems to contrive to devise a different system for ordering, setting up tabs and paying to all the others. We patronise a couple of pubs in North Yorkshire which are part of a half-dozen group under the same ownership, but one takes food orders at the table while the other has a separate food order / paying counter. FWIW, if we're in somewhere new to us, I get the drinks and ask what the arrangements are for eating.

I've no idea how welcome Americans are in North Wales, but I used to go quite a bit but I've stopped because I got fed up of feeling unwelcome. Your American accent may be more welcome than the Surrey influence. But I don't know.

Having said all that, I'll offer a couple of personal recommendations if they are on your route. One is the Railway Inn at Abergynolwyn. I see from the www that it's still going strong. (That may be because I never miss an opportunity to give the place a recommendation.) We went once in the early afternoon, just after they had stopped cooking. Everybody was most apologetic - in sharp contrast to the satisfaction some people seem to take in announcing you are too late to eat - and they quickly rustled up a platter of beautiful sandwiches. We returned a good few times when hot food was being served and it was always excellent. My other recommendation is the George III at Penmaenpool (sp?) Its location by the cycle path overlooking the estuary ought to make it impossible to fail. Several years ago, it was taken over by a pub group who had a good go at achieving failure but they were taken over in time. The Geo III serves food in the bar and dining room as normal, but there's also a popular sort of cellar arrangement at cycle route level where they do grub and you can keep an eye on your bike. On the theme of different ordering arrangements, you get a numbered ticket and when they bring your grub they shout the order number.

[ChrisF]

Interesting thread, and useful for many solo tourists I suspect. I'd add two bits of advice:
Firstly, I wouldn't eat at a restaurant where it's busy; sometimes you'll get bad service because you're taking up a table where 2 or 4 may have otherwise sat, and they'd bring in more money that a solo. But if you eat around 6:30 or 7, most places won't be busy by then.
Secondly, if you're staying anywhere near one of the 'chain' hotels (Travelodge, Premier Inn etc) during the week, then any pubs/restaurants next to or associated with them will easily cater for solos because they rely on people staying on business trips; these are often solos. Not likely to be fellow cyclists though.

[theDaveB]

Some pubs use table numbers, so you find a seat, note table number and then go to bar and order food and they bring it to the table.

Some pubs have carvery which is simular but you get a ticket instead of food and then go up to the carvery with your ticket and the chef carves your meat and you help yourself to as much as everything else as you can possible fit on your plate. Some places you can go back up as many times as you like but just can't have any more meat from the chef.

Restaurants all tend to be wait to be seated and they will come to you for order.

I find restaurants near chain hotels expensive, for instance premier inn want £8 odd quid for a full english. Cafe would charge a lot less and probably be a lot better.

Dave

[mcallaghan]

Breakfast is included in all the B&Bs I am staying at - part of the reason I prefer them. Typically cheaper than a hotel, a bit more quaint and people friendly, with full English Breakfast included. I find that's pretty reasonable. I was the only one in a few of the B&Bs in Ireland that I stayed at but I think May is still the offseason there. I am sure I will run into a lot more people this go around in Wales, in July/August as it seems a lot of the places were 'one room left' when I booked them (how true that sort of thing is, I have no idea).

Pubs - for obvious reasons - have been few and far between for me, or I was too young to be paying attention to how one gets served. I can't go to Wales and not go to the Pub at least once though. I did notice even in Ireland the predominance of 'Kebab' places or the fast-food equivalent of Fish'n'Chip shops that also had what passed as Pizza and even curry for sale too. These basically reminded me of a somewhat rundown McDonalds type of thing. Tile floors, uncomfortable seats, meals ready in a matter of minutes. I did have some good chinese food in Ireland though.

I will certainly document my experiences - both on and off the bike - when over there. I find dining as a group to be a lot more simple then solo dining. Maybe I will try and push my comfort zone and make conversation as well.

[bogmyrtle]

Just ask your B&B hosts for recommendations. They will know all the local businesses.

[Mark1978]

The school holidays in England and Wales start on the last week of July and run throughout August. Traditionally all holiday type places are completely rammed for the duration.

That's why most of the time, if we have a choice, we try to get away early July, before the schools are off. Or September just after they've gone back.

[jags]

typical eating times in almost every house in ireland ,
breakfast 7am to 10 am
lunch 1pm
dinner 5pm or 6pm
supper 9 pm.
you will get a diner in most BnB if you ask most of the SPA or centra shops do full reasdy to eat dinners just pop up to the delie counter they will sort you out no bother.
the weather in wales aint much different that here in ireland so bring your wet gear.

[Vorpal]

I usually ask around for a decent pub. You could also get a copy of the Good Pub Guide, use their site or app. As for etiquette, I often take a book or kindle along to my evening meal, if I'm alone. I don't worry too much about other people being around. I tend to go a bit early (7:00 pm, or shortly thereafter), as the food and service both will usually be better than in the middle of peak time. Many pubs and rural restaurants don't serve food between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, so if you need a snack or meal in that period, either carry something with you, or buy your food in a shop/store, instead. That has caught me out a number of times.

Early meals can be family time in some places, especially rural pubs, so it's worth asking around before going.

[al_yrpal]

If you have a bit of time in Cardiff dont miss the Welsh Folk Museum at St Fagans http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans/, a remarkable institution, particularly the many buildings. Worth a whole day or more. Pontypridd Market on a Wednesday or Saturday morning will give you a real feeling of the valleys. Have fun, but avoid lavabread.

Al

[Sweep]

If the OP has a garmin it would be useful as a back up at least to load the wetherspoons poi file.

Spoons food can be a bit outofabox but the steaks are decent (especially if you pay extra for the aberdeen angus) and the beer is great, varied and cheap. No great etiquette at any time - select a table, note the number, order food at bar, relax.
If you are canny you can also recharge stuff.