Investigating Ask for Angela in Scotland
The "Ask for Angela" initiative was created to provide a lifeline for individuals feeling unsafe in bars or clubs. Discreetly asking for "Angela" signals to staff that assistance is needed, whether to call a taxi, intervene in an uncomfortable situation, or alert security. While widely praised and adopted in venues across Scotland, the effectiveness of the scheme depends on one critical factor: staff preparedness.
Over the past month, we visited three popular venues in Scotland—The Vic in St Andrews, Two Dots and a Dash in Glasgow, and The Three Sisters in Edinburgh—to see how well the scheme is being implemented. In each case, we approached the bar staff with the phrase, "Can I speak to Angela?" The results were troubling, with all three venues failing to respond appropriately. Here’s what we found.
Encounter One: The Vic, St Andrews
The Vic, located in the heart of St Andrews, is a favourite among students and locals alike. On a busy Friday evening, the venue was buzzing with energy, the bar crowded with patrons enjoying drinks and music. Behind the bar, staff were darting between orders. Amid the rush, we approached one bartender and calmly asked, “Is Angela here tonight?”
The bartender looked up with a polite but puzzled smile and replied, “Oh, Angela’s not working tonight,” before moving on to the next customer. The response, while cheerful, suggested no awareness of the scheme. Posters promoting "Ask for Angela" were clearly visible on the walls near the bar, but the staff’s lack of recognition effectively rendered the scheme useless.
When approached later for clarification, a different bartender admitted they’d “heard of it somewhere” but weren’t sure what it entailed. “We’ve been super busy lately,” they added, before apologizing for the confusion.
Encounter Two: Two Dots and a Dash, Glasgow
Two Dots and a Dash, a trendy cocktail bar in Glasgow known for its vibrant decor and creative drink menu, was our next stop. The atmosphere was lively but relaxed, and we approached a staff member during a quieter moment. “Hi,” we began, “I need to speak to Angela.”
The bartender froze, an awkward silence filling the space between us. After a moment, they asked hesitantly, “What drink were you looking for?” The response was a clear sign they were unprepared to handle the request. We clarified, “No, I just really need to speak to Angela,” hoping they’d catch on, but they only offered a sheepish smile and repeated, “Sorry, I’m not sure who that is.”
Despite prominent "Ask for Angela" signage the staff’s uncertainty left us feeling ignored and unsupported. Their visible discomfort suggested that they hadn’t received adequate training, or worse, that the scheme had been mentioned but never fully explained.
Encounter Three: The Three Sisters, Edinburgh
In the heart of Edinburgh’s Cowgate area, The Three Sisters is one of the city’s most popular nightlife spots. Known for its spacious beer garden and lively events, it attracts a diverse crowd. On a Saturday evening, the bar was packed, and staff were moving quickly to keep up with orders.
We made our way to the bar and asked the bartender, “Can I speak to Angela?” They paused for a moment, clearly caught off guard, before asking, “What does Angela look like?” The question underscored a complete misunderstanding of the scheme.
What connects these three venues, beyond their participation in the "Ask for Angela" scheme, is their ownership by the Scotsman Group. Formerly the G1 Group, the Scotsman Group is one of Scotland’s largest hospitality operators, managing an extensive portfolio of bars, restaurants, and hotels. Its venues are known for their central locations and popularity, making them high-profile participants in public safety initiatives like "Ask for Angela."
However, the failures in these three venues raise questions about the group’s commitment to training and supporting its staff. Are employees being adequately trained to recognize and respond to safety requests, or are schemes like "Ask for Angela" being treated as little more than window dressing?
To be fair, these incidents could be isolated. It’s possible that these particular staff members were untrained or caught off guard, and that on most nights the scheme is implemented effectively. But the nature of "Ask for Angela" means it only needs to fail once for there to be serious consequences. A single moment of hesitation or confusion could leave a patron without help in a dangerous situation.
The effectiveness of such initiatives hinges on training and consistency. Posters and promotional materials are a good start, but they must be backed by clear protocols and regular reinforcement. "Ask for Angela" is not simply a campaign; it’s a promise of safety that requires commitment from every staff member, every shift.
The "Ask for Angela" scheme has the potential to save lives, but only if venues prioritize its implementation. The encounters at The Vic, Two Dots and a Dash, and The Three Sisters reveal a concerning gap between the promise and the practice of the scheme. Whether these failures are symptomatic of a larger issue or one-off lapses, they underscore the need for venues, particularly those under major hospitality groups like the Scotsman Group, to ensure staff are prepared.
At its core, the "Ask for Angela" initiative represents a commitment to creating safer spaces. For patrons, that commitment should feel like a guarantee, not a gamble.
