Well my dears - I had to get my passport out to do the leg-work for this story - over the border into Dorset!
We were intending to see "Pirates of the Carribbean 3" for a little light relief, but as the queue at the cinema was out of the doors and down the street 5 mins before start of programme, we decided to have a pint instead.
We went to the Royal Lion in Lyme Regis, and the evening didn't get off to a brilliant start.
Pete: "Two pints of Best please."
Barman: "We don't do Best."
Pete: "Well, what have you got then?"
Barman: "We do Gold."
Pete: "OK, two pints of Gold please."
Barman: "Gold's off - the barrel needs changing."
Pete: "OK, I suppose we'll have two pints of bitter."
(We checked to see if Harold Pinter was hiding under the table writing the script - but no sign of him, sadly.)
We sat in the bar and drank the beer - which was OK but not that special (or best, come to that). Two people were sitting at a nearby table, and while we watched, they were brought their meals by the barman. The chap asked if they could have refills of their drinks, and (like us) was rather taken aback when the barman came out with "No. You'll have to go to the bar - it's not table service" in a rather gruff manner. Sound of jaws dropping...
I could (just about) understand this if the pub had been really busy and the staff were run off their feet - but there were two barmen on duty and only a handful of occupied tables at the time. But as it was - such behaviour seems not only inexcusably rude, but also a PR disaster. I shall think twice before ever going in again - and I hope the couple concernend didn't leave a tip.
Why is it that service seems to be such a foreign concept in some establishments? I can't imagine this happening in the USA, for instance.
Next time - I'll stay in Devon!
01/06/07 @ 13:49