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Original poster

To expect barman to know what a lemon and lime is.

317 replies

girlfriend44 · 09/04/2025 19:57

Couldn't believe it today. Had this drink loads with no problem.

Barman had no clue what a lemon and lime was. Gave up and ordered something else, a coffee instead.

OP posts:
BrickHedgehog · 09/04/2025 20:38

My friend always drinks this when we go out but asks for Lemonade and lime , I drink soda and lime , never been anywhere that they didn’t have it or didn’t know what we are talking about .

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/04/2025 20:38

Baconmaple · 09/04/2025 20:30

I haven't heard of it either. Do bars have lime cordial?
It sounds like it might be old fashioned maybe and not a normal option.

Yes, bars have lime cordial, very common, along with blackcurrant cordial, and even orange!

swimsong · 09/04/2025 20:37

Friend of mine asked for a Bitter Lemon in a bar, wanting a Schweppes.
Barman give her a tonic water with "a bit o' lemon" in it.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/04/2025 20:36

Baconmaple · 09/04/2025 20:32

I don't think you can expect someone to know every niche drink option going just because they work in a bar
Couldn't you have had a lemonade instead rather than a coffee? Seems would have been closer to what you wanted

It's not a niche drink, it was an extremely common order when I worked behind a bar.

Hankunamatata · 09/04/2025 20:36

Never heard of a lemon and lime. From what other posters are saying I would order a glass of lemonade with lime cordial

ThejoyofNC · 09/04/2025 20:35

I'm assuming your attitude to the barman was the same as it is in your replies here. YABU. If you want a lemonade and lime then ask for one.

Pieceofpurplesky · 09/04/2025 20:34

When I worked in a pub nearly 40 years ago some of the older female clientele would ask for port and lemon or lemon and lime. Have not heard it for years and years.

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 09/04/2025 20:33

I’ve never heard it called that - always heard lime & lemonade. But I’m sure I’d work it out, especially after clarification.

Baconmaple · 09/04/2025 20:32

I don't think you can expect someone to know every niche drink option going just because they work in a bar
Couldn't you have had a lemonade instead rather than a coffee? Seems would have been closer to what you wanted

Baconmaple · 09/04/2025 20:30

I haven't heard of it either. Do bars have lime cordial?
It sounds like it might be old fashioned maybe and not a normal option.

lostinthesunshine · 09/04/2025 20:30

rookiemere · 09/04/2025 20:14

I have never heard of a lemon and lime and I am mid 50s and partial to a lime and soda. Why not just tell him what you wanted, rather than this baffled incredulity that someone possibly on minimum wage has never heard of some colloquial random drink name.

Why have people started trotting out this excuse in the last few years?

Bar staff have always earned about the same rate as they do now, relative to other jobs. They’ve always been competent and understood their jobs. Just because they are on minimum wage doesn’t mean they can’t do their job well.

Implying that someone shouldn’t have to know how to do their job just because that are on minimum wage is just bloody insulting.

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/04/2025 20:30

I have worked in pubs for over 20 years and still check when someone asks for a lemon and lime that it is lemonade and lime cordial and not 7Up or Sprite, because I have been asked for both using that phrasing.

Lime and Lemonade is the more common name for it.

nodramaplz · 09/04/2025 20:29

I didn’t know. I thought u meant an actual lemon & lime

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/04/2025 20:28

YANBU

I knew what it was (did bar work years ago).

My gripe is that when I order in an English bar, they don't know what I want, as they have different bar lingo (don't know what other word to use), than back home in NI. But to be honest, I rarely go to bars in England as the measures are tiny.

StMarie4me · 09/04/2025 20:27

girlfriend44 · 09/04/2025 20:13

So, dosent mean it dosent exist.

Show quote history

But could well mean that a Barman may not know what it is without you getting agitated?

PeachPumpkin · 09/04/2025 20:25

girlfriend44 · 09/04/2025 20:12

It's lemonade with some lime cordial.
Served with some ice, it's a gorgeous drink on a warm day.🙄

It is really nice, I agree. I’m surprised it’s not more popular.

Monvelo · 09/04/2025 20:24

I had one last night, it's a nice drink :) I just say lemonade and lime cordial when ordering, think it's a pretty common drink here. I've had more problems with what we call a "Henry" here, just known as orange and lemonade everywhere else and gets some funny looks!

TallAndSkinnyWithAnUnusuallyLargePelvis · 09/04/2025 20:24

So you asked for a 'lemon and lime', he said "What's that?" (as I would, because I've never heard of it), and you said "a lemonade with some lime cordial and ice", and he still didn't understand what that was, so you said "never mind, I'll have a coffee?"

He sounds spectacularly thick.

nocoolnamesleft · 09/04/2025 20:24

I've certainly heard of it before, and knew what it was, even though I've never ordered it.

Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 09/04/2025 20:23

Where I live at least, the gentrification of most food and drink places has meant that any drink 'with lime ' is going to come with a slice of the fruit in it rather than a squirt of cordial. Compared to say 20 years ago when cordial would've been the default.

AprilShowers25 · 09/04/2025 20:23

Lemon and lime is not clear. Lime and lemonade is what it’s called. You probably annoyed him with your incredulous tone then he couldn’t be arsed with listening to your explanation.

Bramble25 · 09/04/2025 20:23

Ha-I know this drink, OP. Team lemon and lime! Maybe it’s regional? I was thinking the other day about how you do t hear much or cider and black, or guiness and black these days.

Thestarsinthesky · 09/04/2025 20:23

I’ve not heard of it- I assumed you meant lime and soda which I think is common? But I may stand corrected that lime and soda isn’t common

GallifreyGirl · 09/04/2025 20:21

I worked in a pub for 14 years and have never been asked for that. Is it lime cordial and soda or lemonade and lime cordial?

CandidExpert · 09/04/2025 20:20

I would have thought it was lemonade with a slice of lime in it to be honest.

When I've ordered this, as I do now and again, I'd order, "lime cordial made up with lemonade instead of water, please." or "lemonade with a dash of lime cordial". I also often order ginger ale and lemonade or orange squash with lemonade and call both just that. Not "Lemon and Ginger" or "Lemon and Orange". I think this is on you, to be honest.