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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a bit of a rip off?

133 replies

narra · 30/04/2021 11:15

Me and my boyfriend booked a table on Thursday night and a pub.
Just the two of us.
We had to pay a £60 deposit to secure our table for 2 hours.
7-9pm
We got there and were informed we don't get the £60 back instead we get it back in the form of a bottle of any of their "house spirit" and unlimited mixers.

I feel a bit ripped off.
Aibu ?

OP posts:
Passthewinebottle · 30/04/2021 11:40

Absolute CFs. I would be raging.

memberofthewedding · 30/04/2021 11:44

I sell online and the law says that all charges must be visible before you click the "pay now" button, otherwise the transaction is not legal.

If there are some hidden conditions (extra charges) then they must be clearly indicated so you can click through and study them, They must be no more than one click away from the main screen,

Did you pay with a debit or credit card? I would complain and ask for return of that part of your deposit which you did not spend. If the pub refuses contact your card issuer and do a full or partial chargeback for that part of the service/goods which you did not receive,

iklboo · 30/04/2021 11:48

It was over the phone, not online.

fruitbrewhaha · 30/04/2021 11:51

Call the council, the licencing dept, it's hardly responsible service of alcohol to get two people to drink a bottle of vodka in two hours, that 14 shots.

covetingthepreciousthings · 30/04/2021 11:55

This is bonkers. I originally thought you went for a meal but now realise you essentially went out and could only drink vodka and coke for two hours Confused

I would do as a PP suggested and call up to book and see if they mention it at the time, if they don't then you need to flag it up as a complaint for the other day and tell them they need to make it crystal clear!

Surely if they were going to enforce this it would be better to have a £60 bar tab so you could use it on any drinks / snacks until you reach your limit rather than enforcing a rule of only one 'house spirit'?

DelBocaVista · 30/04/2021 11:56

What if one of you was driving? Or doesn't like sprits? Or only wanted a couple of drinks because you were working the next day?

You need to speak to them for some clarity as it does seem outrageous.

BeastOfBODMAS · 30/04/2021 11:56

I would be raising this with your local licensing authority. Surely it is not responsible serving to encourage 2 people to drink a full bottle of spirit in 2 hours?
What if someone drank the full amount in the allotted time and made a nuisance/danger of themselves?
Is the pub licenced for takeout? Normally takeout needs to be a sealed container, not an open bottle of vodka.
This seems really irresponsible as well as a rip off!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/04/2021 11:57

That is a rip off.

I am absolutely for restaurants taking deposits, because the no show cunts are in abundance, but not like this. It should either be returned or taken off the final bill.

These are taking a piss

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/04/2021 11:57

Good point - is this outside? Did they decant the bottle into plastic containers?

Original poster
narra · 30/04/2021 12:00

Yes it was a outside terrace
They just put the bottle of vodka in a ice bucket with ice

OP posts:
Jamestheleast · 30/04/2021 12:04

Poncey sort of trick for a pub to play!
Name of pub please and locality.

Viviennemary · 30/04/2021 12:07

That's shocking. They need to be reported to Trading Standards.

Spiderplants · 30/04/2021 12:08

I would be straight on the phone to trading standards, that’s outrageous.

BeastOfBODMAS · 30/04/2021 12:09

@narra

Yes it was a outside terrace They just put the bottle of vodka in a ice bucket with ice
Yeah nope! I’m pretty sure pub licensing doesn’t allow for patrons ambling off down the street swigging from a bottle of vodka!

Not that this is what you did, but this is what they’re setting themselves up for.

I’d probably challenge them in writing, is this really what your policy is or was I misinformed by one of your staff and if so when can I expect my refund?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/04/2021 12:10

It's difficult now though in that you took them up on the specific items they claimed.

GlitterBicuits · 30/04/2021 12:11

This would be one Mumsnet story I'd like to see reach the papers

SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/04/2021 12:12

And to second other pps. Forcing bottle of vodka on 2 people is not ok either and I add my vote to reporting them to licencing

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/04/2021 12:12

Are deposits and emails a thing now?

Only for those who are allowed to get away with it. Obviously some bookings need a deposit, but not I'd have thought for a visit to a pub

The obvious thing would have been to book somewhere which doesn't try it on ... unless every pub in the area's doing it, which seems unlikely

MangoBiscuit · 30/04/2021 12:14

They are cheeky fuckers. I understand that they need to guarantee the income when they are running on reduced capacity, but that £60 should have been a pre-paid tab. You order what you actually want, they serve you. I'd have been very cross in your shoes OP. I don't drink spirits anymore, just wine and cider, so that bottle of shite vodka wouldn't have been drunk.

Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout · 30/04/2021 12:14

@narra

We didn't drink it all no. Yes we took the bottle with us. I'm going to pop in today and explain the situation and see what they say. Then I will leave a bad review on our local page
I would be reporting to the brewery & Trading standards and bad mouthing on FB. What if you didn’t drink? I don’t. You essentially haven’t paid a deposit, you’ve bought a ridiculously expensive bottle of crap vodka! For the privilege of eating a meal in the pub. Awful.
SchrodingersImmigrant · 30/04/2021 12:15

Only for those who are allowed to get away with it. Obviously some bookings need a deposit, but not I'd have thought for a visit to a pub

Lots of pubs are now on bookings system and with very limited seating so if they are fully booked and will end up with number of no shows, they lose money. I think deposit of like £10 per head when booking is fine. But not like this one tho
The amount of no shows is incredible.

NoProblem123 · 30/04/2021 12:16

I’m raging on your behalf.

BingBunnyIsAnnoying · 30/04/2021 12:18

I would want the deposit back. I don't drink spirits or mixers

Sounds like a big rip off to me as your choice is being forced on to you, surely therefore not a choice

itbemay1 · 30/04/2021 12:18

This is quite normal according to DD 21yo what you've done is bought/reserved a table for 2 hours for up to 6 people. Sounds like it wasn't explained at all and the pub just wants groups in drinking loads rather than couples having a few. I'd drink elsewhere in future op.

Thistimelastyear · 30/04/2021 12:22

Not everybody drinks alcohol so that would be pointless for a lot of people! Even so a bottle of spirit in my eyes plus some lemonade does not equal £60

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