To think that if you are going to charge a pound for a mug of hot water, you should make it clear?

[pussycatwillum]

Yesterday I went out for lunch with a group of old ladies. One of them only ever drinks hot water. The waitress provided this for her. We then had lunch and asked for the bill.
The mug of hot water was charged at one pound.
The lady concerned was a) not happy to be asked to pay so much, although she did concede that she would have happily paid 50p as presumably they do have overheads to pay.
b) cross that nowhere on the menu was it mentioned and the waitress did not say 'There will be a charge of a pound for that, madam' which would have given her the chance to say no.
So was she being unreasonable?
It was at a place I have been to lots of times and when I mentioned that she wasn't happy the waitress immediately deducted the charge, but I think this was to avoid a scene.
Is it reasonable to charge for hot water, and is one pound a reasonable amount?

^^Where did you get your customers from?

Islington. Obviously people in that deprived and unfashionable part of London are easily impressed.

I am a lone voice of reason in the wilderness of unreasonable expectations...

thanks Itsa!

It may be fashionable but it's still a shit hole. We left our pub in Islington (on Upper St) after 2 yrs as in that time there was a stabbing and a shooting at 2 clubs in the area, and we had 3 break ins.

But during those 2 yrs no one ever commented on the lemon in their water.

that made me laugh out loud, Itsa.

Islington is indeed a shit hole. You won't find many of the fancy pants owners of the lurvely houses hanging out on upper street...though they might venture to the duke of cambridge for some nosh. For some naice beer and soda bread with hand churned butter.

I was on Upper Street as well!

And yes I agree that there were rough elements but I wouldn't categorise it as a 'shit hole' exactly; it's just the same as lots of bits of London ie council on one side and v well-to-do people on the other. It was actually my favourite pub that I've worked in just because of the mix of regulars. And people definitely commented on the lemon/water thing to me. I even had people say "No, don't" and then I'd tell them I wasn't charging them for it and them be all happy.

Though I used to like Ruby in the dust when single many years ago...until they started watering the cocktails...(see? I can be a grumpy customer too!)

Used to go to The Garage after our shift had finished because they let us in for free. Was a complete dive but had some cracking nights in there.

nono, I mean cuba libra...god I am getting old.

Just to be clear not all premises have to provide free tap water. Under the licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order 2010 only licensed premises (ie to sell alcohol) and those with a club premises certificate have to "Ensure that customers have access to free tap water so that they can space out their drinks and not get too intoxicated too quickly."

Up by Highbury Corner?

what is was that tacky club just dow from the post office?

Oh, and the Kings Head was great too...

I lived there for quite a few years!

Ah honest, I thought there was also an A3 provision too...if you provide hot food to eat sitting down you must offer access to tap water.

Oh god the licensing objectives. How shall I support the licensing objectives? Is my personal license still valid?

Yes, Highbury Corner, that's the one. Sticky floor ahoy and full of people just wanting to carry on drinking, but after a shift behind the bar it was friendly enough and like I say free - nice to unwind a bit and nobody gave a shit what you got up to. Kings Head was good as well, I agree.

someone is smoking skunk nearby and its filling my living room.I'm on the sixth floor fgs!

I hate the smell of it. It does actually make me throw up. gah.

Used to go to the Kings Head a bit. I think it was Cuba Libra where I got glass in a meal once. Already had dc though when we moved there (thought it would be a nice area to move too) so didn't do much clubbing.

Was gutted when they moved the farmers market though, it was right on my doorstep when we first moved there.

Ooh, right by St Peter's Street? loved that road. went to some great parties there. back in the 90s!

I was on the Essex Road for a few years.

Had some good nights there myself...!

I mean the Garage.

Pretty hard to have a good time on the Essex Road! Though living by the Chinese Takeaway and opposite the Indian was great. The nightbus stopping outside my window not so great.

Happy days!

Always good to have a decent takeaway nearby, I find. We used to get discounts at the ones close to the bar as well - shit, I even used to get my hair cut cheap at a nearby salon, because the bar manager looked after their staff when they came in; lots of reciprocal things going on. It was a handy little job in that bar as it goes, all things considered.

yeah, we all looked out for each other round my way when doing the cafe. When the riots occurred all the Turkish boys at the all night supermarket stepped up when they were about to start on the cafe.

I had already sent ds to his dad's but it was pretty hairy. I couldn't possibly have defended it by myself. Unless I threw poncy tea bags at 'em!