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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the 'posher' the place,the worse the service..

40 replies

Tomorrow88 · 19/08/2017 23:17

Had a day off a couple of weeks ago and went to the cafe of a ' posh' well known department store for a cup of tea . Got the usual question ' milk and sugar'? and answered ' just milk please' Tea arrives with no milk and had to ask again ....no milk arrives and had to ask another twice with gaps between...and they weren't busy! In my experience, service and even food tends to be better, say in a small family run cafe than ' posh' cafes and restaurants Anyone find the same ?

OP posts:
Davros · 19/08/2017 23:35

Not at all. I find service more "classy" the posher the place, I.e. Friendly but not over familiar. One problem with tea is that it is often served by people who don't drink it and don't know how to make it

TheProdigalRhubarb · 19/08/2017 23:38

I find it varies wildly.

Kailoer · 19/08/2017 23:40

What are you defining as a "posh" place, OP?

ZeroFuchsGiven · 19/08/2017 23:42

Which cafe?

kingfishergreen · 19/08/2017 23:42

I don't find this, the 'class' of the establishment almost doesn't seem to matter at all, you can get good or poor service anywhere.

But one thing that got on my nerves in a cafe in Harrod's was that they were playing, well know civil rights song, A Change's Gonna Come on their music system... which I thought was bordering on insensitive, especially given the clientele. I might just be being precious though.

FerretsAreFeminists · 19/08/2017 23:43

House of Fraser?

LaurieFairyCake · 19/08/2017 23:44

Well I never thought meeself a posh bird but even I don't think department store cafes are posh Confused

PinkHeart5911 · 19/08/2017 23:47

I wouldn't call a cafe in a department store posh tbh!

It doesn't matter where you go, sometimes unfortunately the service falls below what you would expect becuase the business gets it wrong.

littlepeas · 19/08/2017 23:52

HOF and Selfridges (or JL) aren't that posh - I wouldn't expect partically special service in any of their cafes. If we're talking about Harrods, I might have higher expectations.

Hulder · 19/08/2017 23:54

Unless the department store was Fortnum and Mason, it wasn't posh.

ImListening · 19/08/2017 23:55

A department store is not posh. Not even Harrods. Certainly not Selfridges.

ImListening · 19/08/2017 23:56

Agree with Hulder.

zzzzz · 20/08/2017 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ComingUpTrumps · 20/08/2017 00:05

But one thing that got on my nerves in a cafe in Harrod's was that they were playing, well know civil rights song, A Change's Gonna Come on their music system... which I thought was bordering on insensitive, especially given the clientele

What was the problem with the song, kingfisher?

OlennasWimple · 20/08/2017 00:13

The single best service DH and I have ever experienced (attentive but not over fussy, listened to what we wanted, made us feel a valued as the more obviously wealthy customers there) was at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant in Chelsea. This is also the poshest meal we have had, and is surely posh even by MN standards.

but we have also had fantastic service from spit and sawdust pubs, greasy spoons, and fresh shellfish shacks where you have to bring your own bread, so I don't think that there is a direct correlation between poshness and good service.

HeddaGarbled · 20/08/2017 00:20

OMG no. "Posh" restaurants, you never have to do that irritating trying to catch the wait staff's eye thing to order, get more drinks, get the bill etc like you do everywhere else. It's like they anticipate your every need before you've even realised you need it Smile

Wish I could afford to do it all the time.

TheNaze73 · 20/08/2017 00:53

YABVU. A posh place will have professional waiting staff, who treat you like you are the only person in the building.
Most chain places will be employing people who don't really want to be there. Or act like it

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/08/2017 00:56

You've just got your hierarchy of establishments arse about tit I nominate you for quote of the day Grin

I got utterly fabulous service the other day from a tiny, very busy, independent cafe. Who dealt with my current really stupid and specific food nonsense with grace and charm.

kingfishergreen · 20/08/2017 09:16

ComingUpTrumps the reason that ACGC really stuck out to me was because it is a song about overcoming desperate poverty and racial injustice.

It was written by Sam Cooke in 1964 as a response to being turned away from a whites-only Motel.

Its a song of pain and hope, and discrimination and bravery, and was used widely in the civil rights movement.

For me, it's not suitable as background music for a bunch of 'ladies wot lunch' (including me) in the shop that epitomises privilege.

dudsville · 20/08/2017 09:20

IME, middle class places have the worst service. Working class diners and properly posh restaurants have the best service.

SabineUndine · 20/08/2017 09:21

Depends how posh you mean. The service in the poshest places is fab IME but I wouldn't say any department store is that kind of posh except Browns.

DearMrDilkington · 20/08/2017 09:24

A department store is not posh. Not even Harrods. Certainly not Selfridges.

This. I thought this was going to be about a mega expensive restaurant, not a bloody department store! Grin

Macncheesewithbacon · 20/08/2017 09:30

Totally disagree. I was in London when DD was suddenly violently sick all over herself with absolutely no warning. A man came sprinting out of a nearby doorway, ushered us into a very posh bathroom and 1 minute later a woman appeared with a pile of soft white towels and a glass of water. We got cleaned and and thanked everyone profusely and they found us a table to wait for DH and DS and gave me a free cup of tea. If you're going to puke everywhere, do it outside Claridges.

brasty · 20/08/2017 09:40

Of course Harrods restaurant is posh. £5 for a cup of tea.

Auldspinster · 20/08/2017 09:44

The customer service in Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh is excellent.