never really remember this as a thing, why would you deliberately go to the pub when you’d be rushed

Going for last orders was never a thing in and of itself that I remember. 

This was not a thing for me, although we tended not to go after last orders if that helps. 

I dont really know why it was a thing, I just remember doing it.   I think it might have been to limit drinking as certainly in my twenties if you went to the pub in the evening at all whatever your intentions you were pretty much going to stay there until closing time.

Going for lasties wasn’t really an aim or night out in itself just something you did if you had t gone out on a particular night but got bored and decided you fancied a quick on. 

All very different now. 

I did it occasionally as a student if mates were already there and I couldn't join them earlier (did you never go for last orders at the Grove, Laz?), but tend to agree that it was invariably a pointless exercise. Too little time to enjoy your one drink and everyone there too deep into a drunken conversation for a sober Jonny-come-lately ever to hope to make sense of.

Used to some times go at about 10pm for a couple knowing that time meant you couldn’t have a massive session. Of course in reality it meant you drank quickly and probably drank as much as you’d have done if you’d gone 2 hours earlier.

Drinking against the clock was very much a thing, getting 2 or 3 in at last orders and then necking them as bouncers hovered around your table

Then on to the Fightclub

Yeah I’ve noticed things are much calmer now you can basically take as long as you like, the Licensing Act 2003 was badly needed

yeah when I was a student in London in the 80s we used to nip out to the local old man pub - the exmouth arms near Euston - for 2 or 3 pints at around 2200. the only pub where they pulled my pint as soon as I walked in the door … I think my record was 14 nights in a row. Courage Best for 85p a pint; jumpers for goalposts; etc etc

Then on to the Fightclub

Ok Robert Paulson, weren't you frit of a short walk through Nottingham recently?

the licensing hours thing was nuts back then - I had a pal who worked in a shebeen in Kilburn where people could drink during afternoon closing

Not much to do with drinking, given that you could have a couple of cases of beer at home anyway. 

More conversation. And your missus doesn't really want a load of drunken random bods showing up at the house from the pub.

A containment policy if you will.

It definitely was a thing. Both as a student (let's wrap it up in the library and grab a pint before closing) and as a trainee/junior lawyer.  Often my ex and I (we were both lawyers in the city) would make a pact to be out in time to meet for last orders.  You'd also have a lot of shift workers knocking off at 10pm as well. 

Christ 

never went for last orders - early doors was more my thing

Not much to do with drinking, given that you could have a couple of cases of beer at home anyway. 

Oddly in the  mid 90s there was not much a culture of students/youngsters drinking at home apart from specifically for a party.   I always remember drinking in the pub rather than at home.  The price differential between pubs and the offy was not as great then.

Students should drink tea and smoke marijuana at home. Possibly a beer when eating takeaway food but it's really not very good for you. 

"Oddly in the  mid 90s there was not much a culture of students/youngsters drinking at home "

would say this was true for me as a 1st year student, when there was easy access to cheap booze at SU or HoR bars. after that, preloading at home while watching Friends/Simpsons was very much a thing

I've always preferred drinking 4.30/5.00 pm to about 7.00/7.30 pm.After "work", before dinner.

I think in my country locals you still get a few people who drop in for a pint once they've eaten with the family and got the kids to bed.

Yes it was a thing when I was very young pre student days. 

I used to do it at university during exam time. I'd stay in the library until 11pm and then leg it to the pub for a few beers before closing time at midnight. 

Haven't done this in ages but if I wasn't already in nightwear I think I'd be really tempted right now.

I recall the same as the OP, a flurry of people coming in at about 10.30 was standard 20.

20 years ago 

I don’t ever recall doing this. Maybe getting a final one in as LOs were called but only if already ensconced in the establishment. 

Up at Law College in Chester we would often pop  down into the Ring’O Bells  for a couple of pints after 10pm. 

Most pubs around us nowadays are deserted when the last diner leaves at 10…