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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:
Sunflowerhoneybee · 10/04/2025 00:01

I've been a barmaid in my time and you're the kind of customer I hated dealing with. Entitled and snobby.

FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 09/04/2025 23:53

I was a barmaid for years. Had never, ever heard of this or had anyone order it until I met my in laws.

They however order specifically what they want from the beginning "Hi there. Can I please have a pint of lemonade with a dash of lime if you have it".

It is arrogant to assume people will know what a drink is, especially thinking that a bartender will know every non alcoholic mixed drink going.

Grammarnut · 09/04/2025 23:49

It's lemonade with lime juice added. It's a standard non-alcoholic drink. Two people I went to the pub with last night had it with no problems. A barkeep who doesn't know what this drink is must be pretty ignorant.

Bobnobob · 09/04/2025 23:44

Surely a lemonade would have been closer to what you wanted than a coffee? And when it arrived you could have asked for some lime cordial in it?

lazyarse123 · 09/04/2025 23:42

I call it that but I'm 67 so that's probably why.

LilyJosephine · 09/04/2025 23:42

Horses for courses I’m afraid. I love a St Clements (now there’s a retro drink 🤣). But appreciate that the average drinker of one would probably be my Gran’s age so always say “Orange Juice and Bitter Lemon please” now just in case, as I found some bartenders stared at me blankly.

Weird that he couldn’t understand “Lemonade with Lime Cordial” though if that’s what you clarified. I can only guess he was new or that they have few people ordering anything with cordial now instead of juice. Maybe if you’d said “Lime Squash” instead of cordial he might have got it. I find a lot of bartenders need to clarify the juice vs squash/cordial thing.

AroundTheMulberryBush · 09/04/2025 23:40

I wouldn't know what you meant by a lemon and lime. I don't believe that you went on to tell him "just a lemonade with a bit of lime cordial in" and he disnt understand that. My guess is that when he didn't initially understand "lemon and lime", you wanted to make some kind of point so acted in a 'never mind 🙄" kind of manner and asked for a coffee instead.

SunshineCatcher · 09/04/2025 23:39

Oooh I used to love a vodka with lemonade and lime, but that was back in the early 2000s, so it’s probably old fashioned now!

DrCoconut · 09/04/2025 23:34

I remember red witch from my student days.

RampantIvy · 09/04/2025 23:34

I have never come across snyone who drinks lime cordial with lemonade either. I often drink soda water with lime cordial in it and so do lots of other people I know. I ask for a lime and soda.

valentinka31 · 09/04/2025 23:27

bless him, you could have just told him?

ClemmyTine · 09/04/2025 23:23

LiftyLift · 09/04/2025 19:58

I have no idea what that is either tbh

Lemonade with lime cordial.

APocketFullOfRye · 09/04/2025 23:18

nocoolnamesleft · 09/04/2025 22:54

Beginning to think we need a map of who does/doesn't know the term. I'd come across it in the north west and the west midlands.

Yep know the term.
Grew up in Hertfordshire area and definitely heard people ordering it their

My dh has heard of it….Isle of Sheppey 🐑🐑🐑

StrangerThings1 · 09/04/2025 23:18

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.🙄

Sounds nice but wouldn’t have heard of it before, maybe it’s just popular where you are from and the bar man wasn’t from there

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/04/2025 23:15

AthWat · 09/04/2025 23:10

That might be regional as well then because I've never known anyone call it lime juice.

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Yeah I have worked in or run many pubs and have never heard it called juice. This is in the midlands. Ask for lime and soda or lime and lemonade and you will get cordial.

APocketFullOfRye · 09/04/2025 23:14

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/04/2025 22:34

Or Tia Maria and Baileys as that is what a lot none cocktail type pubs have in, its cheaper.

We are on the same page Pyong

APocketFullOfRye · 09/04/2025 23:13

Darkclothes · 09/04/2025 22:28

What is a baby Guinness then??? I have no idea? 🤔

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Baileys and Tia Maria…..there’s actually no Guinness in it at all.🤣🤣🤣
( It just looks like Guinness )

AthWat · 09/04/2025 23:10

StartAnew · 09/04/2025 23:05

I would want cordial, but it lime cordial tends to get called 'lime juice' in pubs.
Actually soda with fresh lime juice would be a good drink too, more refreshing and less sugary, but I've never seen if offered.

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That might be regional as well then because I've never known anyone call it lime juice.

Trishyb10 · 09/04/2025 23:06

was he foriegn? regular thing to ask for in the north east of england x

StartAnew · 09/04/2025 23:05

AthWat · 09/04/2025 23:01

Would you want lime juice and lemonade though, or lime cordial and lemonade?

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I would want cordial, but it lime cordial tends to get called 'lime juice' in pubs.
Actually soda with fresh lime juice would be a good drink too, more refreshing and less sugary, but I've never seen if offered.

Theyulelog · 09/04/2025 23:04

It’s my regular order. I’m 35, so not old fashioned. Never had an issue with it.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 09/04/2025 23:04

CheeseWisely · 09/04/2025 22:23

I was once asked for a ‘whisky and American’ by an absolute asshole American tourist who then flounced off to sit and wait for me to bring it to him. I was stumped until a regular who’d overheard informed me that he meant a JD & coke.

he was just an asshole. That’s not a what Americans call a jack and coke… we shockingly call it a… wait for it… Jack and coke!

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 09/04/2025 23:01

OneFineDay22 · 09/04/2025 22:46

It’s not an age thing, like some people are saying. I am only in my 30s, worked in bar till I was 22 & I would have made you exactly what you were asking for. Maybe it is a regional thing?

I worked in bars and hotels as a student 1977 to 1982 or so. I wouldn't have known. I might have thought she meant something like Schweppes bitter lemon.

Now many bars will have real limes- i don't think I'd have thought of lime cordial but she meant a slice of lime.

AthWat · 09/04/2025 23:01

StartAnew · 09/04/2025 22:57

I would say lime juice and lemonade.
Coincidentally, I ordered a lime juice and soda in a pub today, for the first time since about 1978. Delicious.

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Would you want lime juice and lemonade though, or lime cordial and lemonade?

StartAnew · 09/04/2025 22:57

Dougt · 09/04/2025 20:14

85 year old mum regularly orders this and she’s never had a problem. I must admit if I order for her I say lemonade and lime, because when I worked in pubs and hotels I really can’t remember many people ordering it that way, so I expect the servers to be confused.

I would say lime juice and lemonade.
Coincidentally, I ordered a lime juice and soda in a pub today, for the first time since about 1978. Delicious.

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