“Secret” things you ask for in shops

[PantTwizzler]

I realised today in Clarks (while buying shoes for DD who had bare feet necessitating asking for their pop socks) that there are some things you can ask for in shops that aren’t advertised but are available. Pop socks is a boring example because they’d probably offer anyway, but there’s also
— garlic oil in Pizza Express
— getting your cappuccino “extra hot”

Ok it’s a short list. Is there anything else?!

"@Gwenhwyfar
Everywhere that sells wine by the glass is legally required to sell it in a 125ml measure, yes."

Wow. Can you send me the extract from the law? I'll take it with me to my cafe next time.

It's on the government website under licensing laws and registrictions. It explain that wine, if sold by the glass, has to come in certain sizes. It also gives the sizes of shots spirits and beer and cider. However, it doesn't say if every size is legally required to be sold in every establishment so I don't know if they are allowed to actually choose which sizes they offer. Would be interested to see a link explaining that.

Catering establishments are legally obliged to give free tap water when requested by customers.

Only if they’re licensed to sell alcohol, I believe.

I'm sure it'll be on Google.
Just be aware that the law is they need to sell it in a 125ml, it doesn't necessarily need to be cheaper than a 250ml measure.

Also, the law is that they are required to state (e.g. smallprint on the menu) that they sell the smaller glass. So it may be there somewhere already.

It's in the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2014.

It is a mandatory requirement for ALL licensed premises and those with a club premises certificate.

Also covered in this is the requirement to provide free water. (But yes, I think this "secret thing" is only law in places that sell alcohol.)

www.gov.uk/guidance/alcohol-licensing#mandatory-licensing-conditions

If you faint in Ikea, they give you free chocolate.

If you projectile vomit in the middle of Ikea you get escorted to the tills and skip the massive queue!

Re alcohol measures they are strictly measured for sale in pubs etc. I used to workehen at uni in a bar and we would have random visits from environmental health (or maybe it was trading standards, I’m not sure) to to unannounced visits to check alcohol measures to make sure we weren’t selling customers short measures to make more money.

I take it you speak from experience, MooBaaLaLaLa

On the subject of alcohol measures: I imagine this is widely known if you are a beer drinker but when you buy a pint you should get a pint of liquid to the pint mark on the glass (usually a centimetre or two from the rim). If you’re served a pint with a massive head you are entitled to ask them to top it up once it has gone down (but not if you’ve already taken a swig!).

Yep. I wouldn't say it was worth it tbh.

@NicoAndTheNiners, impressive!

"It is a mandatory requirement for ALL licensed premises and those with a club premises certificate."

The place I'm thinking of only has a licence to sell alcohol with meals. Could this be why they get away with not selling small wines?

"Just be aware that the law is they need to sell it in a 125ml, it doesn't necessarily need to be cheaper than a 250ml measure."

Ah well. In that case, I suppose I could just chuck half the glass. The law is not as useful as I thought.

The Indian restaurant we like in north London does several 'desi' or home-style dishes, on the menu. They are lovely, and yes, good and hot!

@Unclebuck3

Can they do one of the Big Mac juniors? I loved them, a normal Big Mac is too big for me. I would be happy with a single burger and ditching the middle bit of bread. Would I be charged less if they made that?

Mcdonalds you can get a cup of pickles 😍

Light batter at the chippy. My nana always used to order it. They’d just lightly dust the fish with flour and fry it. Delicious and, well .......light!

I know Prets give free drinks to people they like the look of.... I got one of those & made my day! sad

I used to get a (decaf) coffee free every day in Pret when I was pregnant. I won’t go there anymore but they would give me the occasional coffee and croissant when I did.

My butcher keeps the ends of ham, off cuts or beef (cooked) etc. They are perfect for cat treats except they come in a huge bag so I split them and freeze.

I have asked for things in restaurants if they are made from ingredients they should have, so I once asked the English waiter in an Italian restaurant if I could have mozzarella in sandwich deep fried, he looked puzzled but asked the chef and game back and excitedly told me it had a name, 'mozzarella in carrozza'.

I was very disappointed when Pizza Express stopped doing their Quattro Formaggi pizza - the only one worth having imho - and one day I asked if they could make me one off-menu.

They said no because they 'didn't have the cheese'

Iirc all the cheeses that go onto said pizza were available as part of other menu items. Seemed mean to me.

If you cry in ikea because the item that is showing in stock is not in the aisle it is supposed to be in, a manager will be called who will escort you around the back to show you how vast it all is and that occasionally a delivery will be checked in and put in the wrong place and it may take them awhile to find it! Weeks even!

Said manager will then console you by taking your details and then arranging to have them sent to you free of charge.

Fantastic customer service and worth looking like a complete twat for!

Most places will fill up water bottles. I take a medication that causes a dry mouth I've had water in pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants.

You can get a kids milk in all of the coffee shop chains. Usually for pence. They don’t heat the milk too hot and is bigger than the freebie babycinos.

Pilcrow I once got dd a spag Bol at pizza express from their kids menu. It arrived with no Parmesan on the top as usual. We asked the waiter if she coukd have some cheese on top and was told ‘sorry, they’ve run out’. I said any cheese was fine, didn’t have to be Parmesan could be any type like mozzarella from the pizzas and was told they didn’t have any and couldn’t.....yet were serving pizzas with cheese on everywhere, it was crazy!