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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Waitrose cafes won't serve tap water

69 replies

Chippednailvarnish · 14/03/2014 16:17

How stupid is it when even if you buy something they won't let you have some tap water?

And all the bottled water is in glass bottles. Not exactly child friendly.

OP posts:

PooroldJumbo · 15/03/2014 05:19

I still don't really get the problem with the glass bottle. Were you planning to get your DD to drink from the bottle if it had been plastic? How were you planning to give her tap water if she can't drink from a cup? And so what if a glass bottle is slightly heavier? Didn't you have bags of grocery shopping in a trolley anyway? And it's not a long walk to the car park from the cafe.

I can't believe you can be bothered to e-mail the head office about a glass of tap water. Just make sure you take enough tap water from home for your DD and DS in future.

Theodorous · 15/03/2014 05:50

This is great, a first world gripe that is classic MN. Call the police, alert the village elders, call the Guardian, shock horror rich middle class supermarket upsets rich middle class customer. What do the Lidl customers have to say? Nothing I suppose they are only allowed to say they shop there in a post modernist ironic tone that makes sure we know they choose to for the novel experience.

londonrach · 15/03/2014 07:02

Ive always been given tap water when ive asked. Last time i was with mother in law and didnt even buy anything as not hungry and only there to keep her company. No problem. And even offered ice and lemon with a smile.

Original poster

Chippednailvarnish · 15/03/2014 08:55

I normally have my DD's own bottle with me, but as I have already said, her brother had already finished it.

Previously when we have been out and she's needed a drink (which isn't often) I have been able to give her a plastic bottle (you know the ones that don't smash if you accidentally drop them ) or I have put water in a small take away cup with a lid.

I hadn't actually bought anything in the supermarket, I was there because it was the only cafe open around there at the time I went.

And yes I am really stinking rich, in fact next time I go into a cafe and they refuse a small child a a drink I'll get my chauffeur to find a well and present me with the a hand drawn sippy cup of East London's finest spring water.

OP posts:

Moln · 15/03/2014 09:02

But they gave you a water didn't they?

What IS the problem here?

MrsHerculePoirot · 15/03/2014 09:11

I still don't get the problem. Buy the bottled water and ask for a take away cup with lid to decant it into then? How is this different to how your child would have drunk the tap water?!?

hazeyjane · 15/03/2014 09:13

When I get a drink of water for ds in any cafe (including Waitrose) I ask for it in a takeaway cup with a lid and ask for a straw. No-one has ever refused. It seems a bit churlish to get cross about being given a free bottle of water!

Original poster

Chippednailvarnish · 15/03/2014 09:15

The actual problem is that they would only give me the water after I asked to speak to the manager.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 15/03/2014 09:17

I am a bit lost and slightly confused. An AIBU about tap water, and all the angst.

hazeyjane · 15/03/2014 09:19

OK so it is obviously a problem at your local branch, rather than all Waitroses.

What was the problem with putting the water into a takeaway cup?

LittleBearPad · 15/03/2014 09:19

So they gave you water. You could have put it in a cup. Which your two year old would have dealt with if supervised.

I'm not really seeing the problem?

Bunbaker · 15/03/2014 09:20

Perhaps there was a problem with the tap water at that particular store.

MrsHerculePoirot · 15/03/2014 09:25

But I think we have all agreed that they could have given you tap water, and do so it would appear in every other waitrose cafe up and down the country.

It is all the angst about the glass bottle and how on earth was you child supposed to drink it that seems a bit OTT. You implied in your OP that you couldn't possibly buy water as they only sold it in a glass bottle, but that if it had been in a plastic bottle it would have been fine...

Sparklingbrook · 15/03/2014 09:26

Could have put a straw in....

Misspixietrix · 15/03/2014 11:52

Sounds bonkers Chipped DD been off ill all week. I left her with GM in the Library and had to mix her meds with cool boiled water. Nipped into the local cafe and they gave me the boiled water for free but had to pay for the cup. Didn't mind at all. What did they say their reason for it was? Surely not cost/water bills given the amount of washing they'd be doing all day! .

Misspixietrix · 15/03/2014 11:55

I think I understand what chipped is saying. Cafe lost what 80p by giving away the bottle of water when they could have just given tap? Maybe they were just having a bad day op.

HadABadDay2014 · 15/03/2014 13:07

Perhaps the water isn't suitable for drinking.

itsbetterthanabox · 15/03/2014 13:44

It's probably just a snippy person working in the cafe. Nearly everywhere serves me water but you do get the odd person (not company) who won't for some reason

Forgettable · 15/03/2014 13:49

You were really unlucky OP

Every single waitrose cafe I've been in has been happy to give me a glass of tap water (on occasion I have to take barrowsful of tablets)

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