Unpaid bar tab AIBU?

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

This is the first time I have ventured over to AIBU, please be kind

I do a hobby in a large group, and have done for a few years now. I am also involved in the organisation of this group. We meet once a week to do the hobby, and normally have a couple of social events throughout the year. The latest one was this weekend and was a party in a pub. It was good fun, lots of people brought their partners or friends and we all had a nice time.

Throughout the evening I was vaguely aware that some people had a group bar tab going, but I didn't think much of it, and I wasn't involved in any way (I paid for each of my drinks as I ordered them). However towards the end of the night the barman pointed out to me that a lot of people had already gone home, but the tab was still pretty high. I had to do an announcement anyway that the bar was closing so it was last orders, and I also asked everyone to remember to pay off what they owed. A few more people did, but when everyone had gone home there was still £50 odd that hadn't been paid. I paid it, assuming that for most people it would have been an honest mistake and I could ask at our next meeting for those that had forgotten to pay me back.

We have now had our next meeting and no one has come forward. I know it is only £50, and I am not going to starve because of it, but I am not exactly swimming in cash and honestly I am a bit annoyed to lose it.
So would I BU to make a bit more of a fuss? Or should I just chalk it up to experience and let it go?

Can it come out of the kitty from this "hobby"?

Yes, can it come out of the group funds?

The other week there was an OP that had a thread going for multiple pages over £15 which she'd spent on her friend's dc - that sort of figure can be written off but £50 is a different kettle of fish. Don't let this go.

We have club funds, so I think that if no one comes forward next meeting after another announcement, I will ask about getting the money back through that route. And yes, next time we go there I will make sure it is clear to the bar staff that we don't want any more group tabs!

I am always intrigued by these mysterious hobbies!

Does the pub have cctv,you could ask them to have a look and see if anyone can be identified that way.Theres always one or two cheeky fuckers in a group.

i would be asking the pub to identify the person who opened the tab and them cornering them. I would not let it drop.

The pub is very unlikely to let OP view their CCTV, though they would have let the police if no one had paid, if course.

You are completely right to pursue it and ask for the money back from the kitty if no one owns up. Personally I would by asking the group directly who set up the tab, and if still no one came forward (which would be bizarre - that's really taking the piss) I would ask the bar staff who it was. If you use the place regularly they presumably recognise people.

BitOutOfPractice No one ever admits to what the hobbies are, I am just following convention

I think CCTV might be overkill but I will try to find out who started the tab.

OP - I think you did the right thing and in your place Id do the same. And like you, while £50 wouldn't mean we weren't eating that week, it would be missed.

I think another announcement and then get from funds, next time you use that pub, tell them not to run tabs without taking card details as you were stung last time.

It's not 'only £50' it's £50 of your personal money that you didn't spend.
I wouldn't have settled their tab at the time, I'd have given the bar man an email address or phone number to contact the committee and bill the club.
Lesson learned there.

I would certainly press until I was refunded.

If it's any reassurance, OP, I hold the kitty for our hobby group, and I would have no hesitation reimbursing money for something like this.

I know you are OP. Doesn't stop e being a nosy parker naturally curious individual

I think I'm going to assume it's competitive welly wangling

I think all the hobbyists should have an extra £5 (or whatever) added to their subs to cover it. Then as they start to grumble, and peer pressure kicks in, the person(s) responsible might 'remember' it was them and settle up.

Do you have a yearly membership fee?

I'd suggest putting it up by £50 divided by however many members you have next year and putting it IN WRITING that this is because some people didn't pay their bar tab.

(I have assumed the hobby is bell ringing)

i would reclaim from the expenses fund and let the leadership chase it up.

Ask for it back from the club kitty and suggest the group leader makes an announcement that as no one stepped forward this has had to come out of club funds and as a result no further tabs will be permitted at any of the venues you frequent. At least then it stops the brass necked individuals from taking the piss. The bar will have to be informed no tabs are to be opened as well no matter who asks. You'll soon find out who ti is when they moan how disgusting it is that they can't open a tab and how they aren't thieves and of course they would settle up

Most pubs I know wont open a tab without a swipe of a card. It wasn't your responsibility to settle. Get your money back asap. Presumably you have a print out of what made the bill.... wine, G&T etc. Ask who drank those. then put it down to experience.

Just as a by the by; in my student days I worked in a pub which would regularly hold meetings for various groups. On one occasion a group of about 20-ish people came in and started a tab; the group was seated across three tables which my friend and I were in charge of.

As the night went on some people left and when closing time came the last of them were gathering their coats to leave. They all seemed merry and heading towards the door - I asked quite loudly who would be settling the tab which was now in the £100s and they all looked at each other blankly and started squabbling about who had had the double vodka or the large glass of wine etc etc... seemed to sober them up quite quickly. 3 of them split the bill and seemed quite resentful over it.

I'd been watching them like a hawk the whole night because my twat of a manager had told us if punters leave without settling their bill it comes out of our pay. I don't know the legality of it but certainly focused the mind.

It was very noble of you to settle the bill. I would definitely bring it up at the next meeting and shame them into paying you back.

£50 is a lot of money.

I don't think it was your responsbility to pay this bill as you were not the one who asked for the tabs. And the pub wasn't very sensible to allow this. The money should come out of club funds I think that's downright cheeky of them and I don't think I'd want to associate with such people. Or else everyone present at the evening should pay a pound or two. You should absolutely not be paying it all.

We're a dungeons and dragons game club not really.

I am glad the consensus seems to be that I am not an unreasonable cahhh for wanting to be reimbursed!

The pub were at fault for not making sure they'd get their money paid.

BUT having said that, I'd have made a big fuss about it back at the club. It's outrageous of people to try to get away without paying and I would have stood up and told everyone so.