Bars and pubs often get bashed as being overrated for meeting people. The truth is bars and pubs, not nightclubs are the 'go-to' venues fro meeting new people and bumping into people you know as nodding acquaintances.
Here goes reasons why;
- Bars are good places to organise gatherings; you and a friend meet, others can join in their own time (as an alternative to a party at a house) friends through friends
- Bars are good places to meet friends of friends; friends you're with can bump into people they know who you could get talking to
- You can bump into people/nodding acquaintances met in other avenues (e.g. on courses, at dance classes, at meetup events, at walking groups, cycling groups, tennis club (insert) & get to know them further
- being a regular somewhere; knowing the regular customers and staff by face
The regulars part. You turn-up to things regularly, events that is, people will get to know you, you'll get to know them, you'll start conversations. Here's the thing, you can go to a traditional pub on your own, get to know people over time by face as a nodding acquaintance. People who're new to an area normally go to the pub. You don't need to know loads of people to go out.
Pubs and bars vary enormously in how welcoming they are to new people, the staff and regulars alike. It's a matter of finding those friendly ones.
The traditional British pub is all about being a regular but also has the above-listed social benefits in meeting new people. The pub is a place you can 'drop in' and see familiar faces; be it regulars and staff. It's about being outside the household.
Now 'bars' and 'nightclubs' lack that 'regulars' aspect don't they? But not entirely. I think what I say applies to them as well.