Overcharged at bar. What would you have said?

[Jewbelee]

Went to a bar a few days ago. There was a ‘happy hour’ for most of the night. So a double spirit and mixer is £2.00. Great. My colleagues and I are low paid but wanted to go out.

My colleague ordered the first round (4 of us), 3 g&ts and one rum and coke: £8.

I ordered 3 g&ts and one double rum and coke. As I was there I overheard the manager breathing down the bar worker’s neck, saying to give house spirit rather than gordons. £16.40

So I said, it’s £8 no? And the bar person was like no £16.40. So I said four spirit & mixers at £2 each is £8. They replied, no we’re now charging for the tonic waters on top, so it’s £16.40.

The manager was still there, and I couldn’t be arsed for a fight/awkwardness so just said ok fine.

My colleague got another round of drinks and was charged… £8! He was warned at the bar that they are going to start charging for tonic waters, and someone (me) was pissy about it earlier. (!)

If the advert wasn't for branded, then fine. If the advert was for a splash not bottle, then fine.

Otherwise you can only really complain at the time. Why didn't you move on after that round given the new "cost "

They should have been clearer that they meant off brands and postmix.

I'd see it as lucky you got the two cheap rounds rather than being annoyed about the more expensive one that was in view of the manager.

I know this is not really the point of the thread but I dont think a double rum and coke would have been £2 anyway. Surely it was just single measures? Anyway you needs to either refuse to pay and move elsewhere or just suck it up.

Well OP did say literally in the first post the offer was for a double spirit and mixer for £2, so why would a double spirit (rum) and mixer (coke) not be £2?

Not sure why she was clarifying the rum was double though, presuming the gin and tonic was double too if it was included in the happy hour.

Why you didn’t just refuse to pay and move on I don’t know. Or at least complained after the 3rd round was cheaper.

£8 for 2 double spirits & mixers is v cheap are you sure it wasn’t meant to be for singles not doubles ?I would of just queried it , not sure why your explanation wasn’t satisfactory. Did your friend buy singles on her round and your bought doubles ? .

Just read it again 3 spirits & mixers for £8 !! Where is this bar ?

They should have said after you ordered but before they poured “Tonic isn’t part of the £2 spirit and mixer deal, is that OK?” So you had the opportunity to order gin & lemonade or something.

Weird that the subsequent round went back to being £8. I just wouldn’t go back to that bar, not a lot else you can do.

I’m amazed they can charge £2 for a double and mixer!
I would have challenged more at the time tbh.

The confusing point is that the colleague, twice, got the £2 offer, but it was mysteriously unavailable when the OP asked.

I hate it when somewhere has an offer and then tries to deliberately steer you away from it or claims that it is not like the advert suggests and makes you feel really awkward when trying to make use of the offer.

Is your colleague…prettier than you?

sorry at how that sounds but I wonder if the reason why your colleague got better prices was because they came off as more attractive

I was also wondering if there was something about the colleague compared with the OP that caused her to be given the offer and the OP not and sadly the first thought would be being more attractive or younger.

Colleague is a he, we don’t know OP’s gender or the bar worker’s to be able to compute if it’s a “she (the bar worker) fancied him” sitch.

I'd have been tempted to say 'I'll leave it, then' and go elsewhere. I hate offers that are not what they seem.

I would have left it too. And I ran hotels and restaurants for most of my life!