To think you can’t sit in a pub all evening and not buy a single drunk

I have read your posts. They are embarrassing and I'd be embarrassed if I were in your company.

I'd already spent a not inconsiderable amount for lunch for 2 & extra drinks before & after.

whether you have soda (pint of, free there) or soda & lime (£4) the glass still needs washing etc etc the only difference is a squeeze/squirt of lime. £4 is ridiculous is it not?

Tbf when I say we charge for soda I admit to using discretion as I imagine is the case in lots of places. if someone spends £20 on a bottle of wine the. Asks for a glass of soda on the side to add a splash to their glass each time I don’t charge, a vodka lime and soda they are already paying for the vodka and the lime. The small dash of soda doesn’t need payed for. A full glass of soda and lime where it’s the main part of the drink is charged for as it wouldn’t be worth the dispense cost and glass wash after and id definitely not complain if charged in that instance

Nothing worse than tight fuckers. I would lose respect for them. Buy a cup of tea ffs. That’s the price of your social evening. What is their problem? I wish I could understand the mentality.

Your first venue closed and so will this venue if they sit there not buying anything, and so will the next one they think it's fine to use the facilities and space and not buy anything. Then there'll be no venues and they will complain there's nowhere to go. But making the connections is beyond people who have this mindset.

Because of the mineral content, I can’t drink bottled water which is a complete balls ache when on holiday!

🤣🤣
how can you buy something that’s free??

Oh ffs!
it’s about people not getting a drink 🤣 if they don’t want to pay then get water, nothing wrong with that, which is what you’ve seem to have a problem with 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

You should be embarrassed at your lack of comprehension. Try actually reading my posts or just stop showing yourself up

OK. Well it is.

I see. I didn't think this was allowed any more.

Your argument that you should be able to take up space in a pub and staff time for nothing is ridiculous. Are you one of the OP's acquaintances?

I'd be embarrassed if I were in your company in public and you started whinging about this.

other places charging for soda is reasonable, but also irrelevant. This place does not. I wasn't getting a soda for free because I didn't have a soda.

No, it's not ridiculous, but I've run out of crayons.

As has been pointed out to you some places charge for soda. They still need to supply the gas and electricity, service and maintain the machine, pay for the gas and the person who delivers it.

So you were getting the soda free even although there was a cost to the venue. Your whinging about being charged for the lime is still ridiculous.

And do you not read posts properly?

I have already said they are unreasonable not to buy drinks. I have already said I'd buy a couple to try to make that up a bit.

of course I understand the pub has overheads but the cost of a soda at THAT pub us £0 the cost of a soda & lime is £4. A squeeze of lime costing me £4. Ridiculous.

I have since updated further to expand on my 'lime gripe'

EDIT: it's dropped the post I was quoting (again)it is in reply to @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle

No it's not a ridiculous comment.

Yes I know they have overheads etc. if you must know ALL the details before you can accept the difference between the two drinks was £4 & the ONLY difference was a squeeze of lime, I'm tell you. But it actually makes NO difference, that squeeze of lime cost me an extortionate £4.

my god daughter (adult) was here from overseas, staying with me. I took her out to lunch. She had a cocktail, I had a mocktail (as I was driving). We had their mixed platter/tapas type lunch for 2, (I can't remember how much it cost - but it's not cheap, she also had a side of fries and we both had their signature brownie, then I had coffee (2) & she had a pot of tea. I paid the table bill & as we were still chatting, enjoying their garden (mid week so plenty of spare tables) I went to the bar & got us both another drink.

I know venues are struggling & their overheads are high, but £4 for a squeeze of lime IS extortionate & unreasonable.

As I said earlier, the non buying group members are definitely unreasonable & id buy a couple of drinks to hopefully make up for them not doing so.

They sound a bit peculiar but tbh most of the pubs round me wouldn’t be too bothered as long as some people in the group were ordering wines or coffees etc. Not okay for her to throw insults at you though so I’d say something to her if she tried that again.

Presumably anyone can drink bottled water…

To be honest , if I was the Landlady , I’d boot them out. Totally out of order.

I think they should get soft drink or hot drink each. That said if the rest spend a far amount the pub may not mind…

I think you should find an alternative venue. Can you meet at a local library?

Having spent a lot of my younger years working in pubs, I can confirm that no, it's not OK to sit in a pub (or a cafe) and buy nothing. Have a soft drink, even if it's just a cordial and soda, or ask for a tea or coffee if you like, but buy something.

For those saying things like 'A bit of lime doesn't cost £4' etc, no, it doesn't, but do you not understand that a) there are other costs incurred in running a bar and serving drinks, and b) that the purpose of running a business of any kind is to make a profit? If you go into any commercial premises, you need to accept that they aren't there just to break even, FFS. If you can't get your head round that, don't go into them.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat well that’s not the same at all if you were buying food. It’s cfs thinking that they can occupy a table - for free, have cups and saucers, teapot, tray and hot water - for free, and then probably use the cafe’s loos - for free.

Dn worked in a popular picturesque seaside cafe. The management had to have a serious crackdown on the “just a pot of hot water please” crew who also had a tray with two cups and saucers on and were using their own teabags.

I've used my own teabag but I've always offered to pay for the water. I don't drink tea or coffee, only peppermint tea. It's easy to get peppermint now but when it wasn't I used to ask for hot water and explain I was using my own teabag. I didn't feel guilty, especially as I'd be buying food.

Well you have your answer - you are correct in thinking it's NOT alright to sit in a pub and not buy anything - even a packet of crisps or a coffee.