• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
What would actually happen if you ‘asked for Angela’ after woman put it to the test

Home> News

Published 15:18 13 Dec 2024 GMT

What would actually happen if you ‘asked for Angela’ after woman put it to the test

Back in October, we put the 'Ask for Angela' safety initiative to the test

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

Back in October, I decided to conduct an investigation to find out what would actually happen if you 'asked for Angela' at 10 bars across Manchester.

Now, the official way the safety initiative should work is by training staff in vulnerability management for when someone subtly 'Asks for Angela' - a coded way people can request help from staff if they feel uneasy on a date, fear their drink may have been spiked, or generally feel concerned about their safety.

I've always wondered what would actually happen if you 'asked for Angela' on a night out (Supplied)
I've always wondered what would actually happen if you 'asked for Angela' on a night out (Supplied)

Ideally, the trained member of staff will understand the person needs help and support and will be able to respond in 'an appropriate, discreet way'.

Advert

"They might call security, lead the person to a safe space, or help them leave the premises unnoticed." the website adds.

However, from my investigation, I found this was far from a standard practice.

I put the scheme to the test at a range of prime date locations and after-work favourites, from sprawling old-fashioned pubs and high street chains to busy music venues and quieter independent bars.

Official guidance for staff members (Ask for Angela)
Official guidance for staff members (Ask for Angela)

Putting 'Ask for Angela' to the test

One bartender in Manchester's buzzing Northern Quarter simply told me: "I don't know who that is' before asking: "Do you have the right bar?"

Advert

Two other bartenders in Deansgate seemingly weren't aware of the code phrase and similarly made me qualify my question three times, although both venues were aware of the scheme when I probed further - claiming to have 'far less formal' in-house training, with one bartender noting that no one 'external' from the scheme had come in.

Another bartender who worked at a chain pub nearer to Salford straight up told me that she had 'no training whatsoever'.

But when I asked another Northern Quarter bartender, he asked: "Is everything okay?" instantly understanding the code term - something that pleasantly surprised me after my first few unsatisfactory responses.

Just across the road at a small club, another bartender asked if I was okay and offered to bring me to the side of the bar to chat in private.

Advert

One safety measure I was shown at a live music venue in Manchester (Supplied)
One safety measure I was shown at a live music venue in Manchester (Supplied)

A shocking result

After I assured her I was fine, she explained that she had received 'Good Night Out' training, while her colleague said she had official 'Ask for Angela' training in her previous place of employment, a Wetherspoon pub.

So, I headed to the nearest Spoons to ask them the question and was seriously shocked with what followed.

Advert

This pub was absolutely heaving - by far the busiest one of the 10 places I went to - and, with a growing queue forming behind me at the bar, I asked: "Is Angela there?"

Even through the chaos of a post-work rush, the bartender knew what to do straight away. I was instantly taken to a private room away from the bar, where she asked me how I was feeling and what I wanted her to do to help.

After explaining the investigation, I had an illuminating chat with her and her manager, who later joined the discussion after she gave him a 'thumbs up' that all was OK through the glass of their break room.

The bartender, who had only worked as one for three months, said she got the training in her induction.

Advert

An 'Ask for Angela' poster I saw in a Wetherspoon's toilet (Supplied)
An 'Ask for Angela' poster I saw in a Wetherspoon's toilet (Supplied)

The manager also shared that the staff have 'refresher courses every three months' covering 'what steps to take to ensure it’s carried out correctly'.

Even though their responses were A+, he explained that in the six years he’s worked at that pub - he’s never had someone ask him or any of his colleagues for Angela.

This seemed a recurring theme, as a pair of women who worked at a wine and craft beer bar further out of town knew to immediately take me to another area before asking if I was alright.

Similar to the others, they told me that while they’ve never had someone ask for Angela, they felt 'more than comfortable' intervening and getting involved should a case of harassment rear its head.

Another 'Ask for Angela' poster I encountered in Deansgate (Supplied)
Another 'Ask for Angela' poster I encountered in Deansgate (Supplied)

My thoughts

Now, I want to make very clear that at no point during this investigation was I trying to shame hospitality venues, critique staff members or call out the 'Ask for Angela' scheme, which is doing incredible work across the country.

Instead, I simply wanted to raise awareness that the current parameters we have in place to stop harassment and spiking in nightlife venues simply aren’t working in isolation.

While it has helped people over the past eight years, its flaws are difficult to ignore - and are clearly already known by those promoting it.

So I'm calling for more active efforts from local councils, police and hospitality venues to put extra measures in place to combat the problem head-on at the source rather than give potential victims yet another way to remedy an issue they've got absolutely nothing to do with.

What has 'Ask for Angela' done since my investigation?

I had already shared my findings with Sylvia Oates, the Director of 'Ask for Angela', who explained that due to 'the lack of centralised setup support for organisations', it meant that the scheme wasn't 'implemented consistently' - giving rise to the issues I 'identified'.

And since then, there's been a lot more awareness raised around the scheme - including a BBC article doing the same investigation which was published a month after I conducted my experiment.

Two months after my investigation, Sylvia shared with me the latest update surrounding the scheme.

Ask for Angela has a bunch of free resources on their website (Ask for Angela)
Ask for Angela has a bunch of free resources on their website (Ask for Angela)

In a statement to Tyla, she said: "We're really pleased with the progress we've made with the 'Ask for Angela' scheme over the past few weeks.

"We've convened a national meeting with senior police officers, council representatives, pub operators and other key stakeholders to enhance the scheme's implementation and ensure consistency across the UK.

"Many towns and cities have since launched impactful initiatives in their areas, such as distributing free resources to venues and conducting visits to test the scheme's effectiveness."

Sylvia added: "These efforts have garnered highly positive feedback, with an average pass rate of 80% in compliance tests. "Examples of this activity include the West Midlands, where you can see the activity in question via this TikTok video, and Cambridge, which has seen significant success in their local testing.

"This collective effort highlights the commitment of venues and local authorities to providing safer spaces and empowering those who feel vulnerable to seek help confidently."

Featured Image Credit: Tyla

Topics: Life, Advice, Tyla Exclusive, UK News, News, Food and Drink, Crime

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Donald Trump slammed for 'cruel' remarks about ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ where he plans to hold undocumented immigrants

    Another migrant detention facility is in the works

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Grim theory behind why Donald Trump’s ex Ivana is buried at his golf club

    When you think of a final resting place for a president's former wife, you probably don't think of a golf course

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    FBI's statement about Trump's assassination attempt has divided opinion as conspiracy theory sparked over 'major clue' it was faked

    President Trump sustained a wound to his ear during an assassination attempt last July

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Donald Trump sparks conspiracy theory after people spot detail in photo with Crown Prince

    This isn't the first time the President's height has been brought into question

    News
  • ‘Ask for Angela’ organisers respond after woman actually tried doing it in bars to see what would happen
  • What would actually happen if US or UK was hit by nuclear bomb amid global tension
  • Grim reality of what actually happens when you eat an oyster might make you think twice about trying it
  • Woman who was terrified to get first smear test left with one important question after finally getting it done