"Time gentlemen please"

[Scavenger]

Is there any stories associated with Old Father Time and calling "time" after announcing "last orders" when in a pub? Or is it simply that it is now "time" to drink up?

[spudqueen]

I've always assumed (wrongly perhaps) that it was now 'time to drink up'.

[Scavenger]

You may well be right... I just seem to remember someone telling me that it originiated from something to do with Old Father Time (?).... oh well - it may well remain a mystery!

[Quizmonster]

'Time', in the sense of the end of prescribed opening hours in a public house, dates back only to about 1912 and the actual 'traditional' call of "Time, gentlemen, please!" is not recorded anywhere before 1932. It seems highly unlikely that a medi�val concept such as Old Father Time ever had anything to do with it, I'm afraid. All it means is that the time has come when no more drinks will be poured.

[Scavenger]

Very detailed info Quizmonster - I think someone was pulling my leg then when they said that the call of 'Time' was some kind of tribute/summons to 'Old Father Time'... amazing what someone can convince you of just around drinking up time in a pub!