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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Perspective needed - AIBU to ask for the music to be turned down in a family resturant?

94 replies

lucyellensmumnamechange · 05/05/2012 12:58

Before we get started i need to make a confession - This was a "Hungry Horse" resturant so I was not expecting fine dining and a mellow ambiance.

I was however, at 7.30 on a Friday night, expecting to be able to have a conversation with my DP without having to bellow at each other and then give up because i couldn't make myself heard. It was quite unbelievable actually. Now don't get me wrong, im not a kill joy, and it was 80's cheese so at a bearable decibel level woudl have been just right. In fact, i have been there before when this music has been played just now quite SO loud and it put me in a good mood. Not last night.

I politely and nicely asked the waitress if we could just get the music turned down "just a tad" so that i didn't go stark staring mad. I watched her go over to the manager who was propping up the bar, saw some sniggering and she came back, "no sorry, its friday night and we hae a DJ on at 9pm so we can't turn it down" Hmm Must have been about 8 at this point, so hardly party time. She walked off smirking at the other bar maid. Then my DP asked for my DD's pudding and had to literally shout to make himself heard. She walked over to the bar - cue more smirking from 6ft brick shit house of manager.

By this time the music had fried my synapses so i asked to see the manager, who actually squared up to me! Shock I was shouting, he got right in my face and told me not to shout - "dont shout and point at me darling!" (im not joking) I WAS shouting because otherwise i coudlnt have made myself heard. He was really aggressive, invading my personal space and saying "what do you expect love, its friday night and we have a DJ now, you should have known" Not in the resturant though surely, and not so early, the DJ wasn't playing. Had this been after 9pm in a non food pub, fine. Now im no shrinking violet but had i been i would have been quite scared. I told him i no longer wished to discuss it and asked for the adress of head office. At this point he got right in my face and said "im going to get you to talk to someone else before i lose my temper" i mean, WTAF?? Then his wife comes out, and just made it worse - I said to her, i am not his darling or love (as i had repeatedly asked him not to call me this) and she kept saying, Come one love, its just a turn of phrase. Yes, under normal circumstances, but not shouted in my face, it was intimidating. I had to ask several times for head office address, which when i got home and checked the website became apparent was incomplete! Hmm

So, as far as im concerned this is cause for a serious complaint - not so much the fact that the music was stupidly loud (it really was, im not THAT old that i dont enjoy loudish music, but itwas at nightclub level), or even the fact that the waitress was rude (i'll forgive her that, she was young) But the fucking thug of a manager thinking it was OK to square up to a customer. Let alone a customer he was at least a foot taller than. DP just kept his head down (which was probably the best thing to do in the circumstances and he knows im not scared). The bloody manageress then directed her "apology" at my DP and kept saying "well im sorry he called you darling" like i was being precious - maybe i was, i dont know, but not when its shouted at me in sarcastic tones. The lady in the cake shop, the smiley faced plumber caling me luv and darling, fine, i quite like it, it makes me smile, but not some Thug of a bar manager.

On reflection i have seen this person being aggressive with customers in the past when they have complained, no apology, just excuses and pretty much a tone of "if you dont like it, fuck off" but has always been fine with us. He wont of course get the opportunity again.

My question is though was i unreasonable in the first place for wanting the music turned down or should have just sucked this up, on account i was in a lively pub (it wasnt lively though, it was jut the manager and his cronies at the bar!) or was i justified as the music in the resturant area was unacceptably loud so that we couldnt have a conversation.

OP posts:
SunflowersSmile · 05/05/2012 14:35

Go to their website. Kid friendly page.
comments bit too.

RubyGates · 05/05/2012 15:07

Lucyellen:
Our local Wetherspoons won't serve you with children after 7.00.

Their rep says this:
Entry times for under 18's can differ from pub to pub and I would recommend that you contact the pub directly prior to your visit for this information. Please be aware that a few of our pubs do not permit under 18's due to their licensing restrictions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for you and apologise if this information was not adequately explained to you at the time of your visit.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Barley
JD Wetherspoon plc

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 05/05/2012 15:17

can't believe how many people seem to be saying 'well what did you expect' erm in any eating establishment at any time if I am paying for a service ie a meal then I expect it to be edible and I expect the place to be clean and to eat in a reasonable environment. If the music was that loud I would either leave before ordering or if it was increasded in volume after I had ordered I would nicely and politely ask if it was possible to turn it down a bit. I would NOT expect to be sniggered at or abused so Yes op YANBU and do complain the head office have a right to know how their staff are behaving. Even if you had been a nightmare I still would not expect the manager who should have some customer service skills and training to resort to abuse.

21YrOldMan · 05/05/2012 15:41

If you have to raise your voice to be heard at 1 meter the music is probably going to give the staff permanent hearing damage. If you're only there for a couple of hours you'll be fine, but if you're exposed to more than 85dB for 8 hours you risk hearing damage.

MarySA · 05/05/2012 15:44

YANBU. But loud music does seem to be featuring everywhere these days. You should be able to hear yourself speak. Wouldn't go back there if I were you.

Aribura · 05/05/2012 16:35

You imagining it's a "family restaurant" at almost nine on a Friday night, lmao.

Aribura · 05/05/2012 16:38

And yes, you are not supposed to be in Wetherspoons after I think 7 with a child. For good reason.

LaurieFairyCake · 05/05/2012 16:45

I would have walked out without paying after the manager squared up to me.

There is nothing he could have done.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 05/05/2012 16:52

Ha ha ha ha @ outrage at my Hungry Horse/Frankie & Bennys comparison.

They are both loud & sell lots of meat based dishes on huge plates. Both have faux interiors, one based on olde worlde Engerland and the other on 1950s USofA.

Not like I was comparing KFC with The Fat Duck is it?

Moominsarescary · 05/05/2012 17:05

Yabu they had a dj booked for 9? Anywhere like that is going to be loud at least a couple of hours before the dj arrives. In future go to a restaurant on a Friday night

SarkyWench · 05/05/2012 17:09

IMO a review on tripadvisor is more likely to have an impact than a letter to head office.

wherearemysocks · 05/05/2012 17:23

OP, I was on your side to start with, until you said you can't be arsed to send the complaint anymore. Makes me think your side of things may have very skewed to start with, if you thought that there was genuine reason to complain then would be arsed to press send.

lucyellensmumnamechange · 05/05/2012 18:30

No, im going to send it wherearemysocks - i just had an attack of niceness and not wanting to cause people stress, but bugger that - they might learn how to deal with customers. Sarky, im not sure people who go to hungry horse really look at trip advisor though.

OP posts:
YouOldSlag · 05/05/2012 18:35

OP YANBU.

This is not customer service and don't listen to the posters who imply you were a nightmare customer.

Loud music in pubs and restaurants is one of my pet hates. If I want to be deafened and lip read the person opposite me, I will go to a nightclub.

The Manager was threatening- he threatened to lose his temper. This is aggressive and should be reported to Head Office. He should not be a Manager.

BBQJuly · 05/05/2012 18:35

YANBU about both the music and the attitude. Definitely complain (you can't not send the letter now after all the support people have given you on here!)

Nyac · 05/05/2012 20:31

Send it, but don't ask for a refund. They'll probably offer you one anyway.

Emo76 · 05/05/2012 22:05

YANBU having to shout your order is ridiculous!

OhdearNigel · 05/05/2012 22:11

YWNBU. Regardless of whether or not YWBU to ask for the music to be turned down - you should not have been spoken to like that however ridiculous your request.

I worked in a 5 star hotel as a manager many moons ago. i vividly remember dealing with a complaint about the volume of the sound from the seagulls on the seafront. It was a pathetic complaint but that would have been no reason to be rude.

If he can't manage to control his temper he should not be in a job where he has to deal with often demanding members of the public. Please notify their head office, they may be grateful for further ammunition. If he is employed by anyone decent he should be summarily dismissed for threatening behaviour

OhdearNigel · 05/05/2012 22:12

but that would have been no reason for me to be rude.

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