To think this is a bit of a rip off?

[narra]

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 ?

Id book somewhere else !

I'm stunned . Was nobody else kicking off . It can't of been just you guys there .

That's really awful! What if you don't drink? What if you don't like Spirits? Why would you pay £60 for a bottle of Vodka when you could get a bottle of Grey Goose or whatever for £30?

Yes, alarm bells should have rung when you were asked to pay £60 deposit (I would have expected more like £10) but that's just ridiculous! Agree, this is one that should reach the papers!

If me an my OH had a whole bottle of spirits over a meal, it would not be a pretty sight!

Ask for your money back. If they refuse, go to the licensing people at the district council and tell trading standards at the county council. They're ripping people off, and cashing in on the fact people won't want to complain because of the pandemic and wanting to support local businesses. It isn't appropriate to say you have to have a bottle of -crap- spirits in return for booking with them, and even worse to not tell you explicitly up front (even if they did tell you, that isn't appropriate behaviour from them!) It's likely to be a breach of their license and they won't want to be investigated.

I'm amazed they thought this was a good idea because of the number of designated drivers for nights out. Round here, evening public transport hasn't restarted so you'd have to presume there's a driver.

What was the pub called? We'll back you up!

Wtf.

On the say so of an anonymous stranger on MN you want to go ruin someone's business?

Your bf should have asked them to clarify what the deposit was for, when it was made clear when you got there you should have complained, instead you chose a drink and sat there for 2 hours.

I would chalk it up to experience and book elsewhere in future.

Your OH obviously did not interpret the £60 'deposit' as having to buy a bottle of spirits for that amount.
So they obviously either didn't tell him that was the case, or they didn't explain it properly.

Either way they are 100% at fault. They should have made it very very clear at time of booking that this was not in fact a deposit, but a FEE for booking a table.

Ring and try and book and see what they say. Record the call if you can. And see if they explain this is very plain terms as to what exactly this is for.

Essentially if they use the word 'deposit' they are misleading you and you would certainly be able to take this up with trading standards and the local authority, because a deposit is something which is returned/taken off your final bill.

If its a minimum spend, this should be explained CLEARLY at the time of booking that you have to spend at least the amount of the 'deposit'.

What they have actually done is charged a reservation FEE with a free bottle of house spirit and mixers thrown in.

Wow!

I've only ever had to pay a deposit for a restaurant and even then it's been £10 and has come off the bill at the end.

I'm going for a pub dinner tomorrow evening (outside) and I didn't have to pay a deposit and no minimum spend.

I only drink gin and can't stand cheap crap so that would not have worked for me and I'd have let them know! I'd expect at least 3 bottles of wine for £60 and then I'd have to take 2 of them home within those time frames!

Sounds illegal, you should have insisted on getting the money back and kicked up a fuss. Deposits are always refundable or deducted from the overall bill.

@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult

No, not ruin someones business. If we knew the name of the pub some us can make a call to try and book a table and see what information they are telling people abut this so called deposit.
I think they are ruining their own business quite fine on their own, as I bet OP isn't the only unhappy punter.

Shame on local Facebook page
Contact Trading standards
Contact the local authority that licenses the premises - even better if the license is up for renewal soon

[quote Swordfish1]@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult

No, not ruin someones business. If we knew the name of the pub some us can make a call to try and book a table and see what information they are telling people abut this so called deposit.
I think they are ruining their own business quite fine on their own, as I bet OP isn't the only unhappy punter.[/quote]
Mumsnet detectives ha.

What needs to be done is a report to local licensing not having randomers from MN investigating accusations and writing bad reviews (which people would do, we all saw real examples of band wagon jumping on reviews before)

No, not ruin someones business. If we knew the name of the pub some us can make a call to try and book a table and see what information they are telling people abut this so called deposit.

Why?

Op wasn't happy, she chose not to complain at the time. Its up to op to sort out. Posting the name of the pub would be a very shitty move and would lead to keyboard warriors in need of a bit of a drama to start slating their business online because someone has accused them of something.

Advise op how to complain and sort it by all means, but don't encourage the op to post the business name under the guise of 'helping' and adult sort out a problem partially of their own making.

Oh and practice your “sad-face” and contact the local press!

Personally I would have deducted the £60 from the bill, sent back the alcohol and reminded them of their obligations to 'sell alcohol responsibly' under the terms of their premises licence. An entry fee of half a bottle of spirits per person is not a responsible promotion.

However, it is a bit late for that, but you could give your local council a ring and ask to speak to the person responsible for Premises Licences for the sale of alcohol and report this.

Personally I would have deducted the £60 from the bill

What bill?

I would say that neither of you drink alcohol, and that was never mentioned when you booked it over the phone.

That's at best very fly, at worst probably not legal. Tell them they pay it back or you will report them to the licence department. And follow through if they refuse.

The description of the £60 as “a deposit” was misleading as the dictionary meaning of deposit is a payment made in part payment of an account. They should have informed you that there was a minimum charge of £60 payable in advance — but then few singles/couples would then book. Plus who pays for such a meal in advance? If you do so you forfeit your right to leave without paying, say if you are dissatisfied by the cleanliness, behaviour of the staff etc.
Send a simple letter reminding them they called it a deposit etc and that you intend to take the matter to the Small Claims Tribunal. If you are a member of ?Which they will assist, but simple enough to do it yourself. Hopefully they will then pull in their horns and give you a refund

@swimlittlefishy

Personally I would have deducted the £60 from the bill

What bill?

I'm assuming their food bill, but it's true OP didn't say they ordered a meal.

It's seems that you've basically paid an under occupancy charge. They want their tables filled to capacity - couples not welcome. They obviously make more money from 6 people over 2 hours than they would from 2 people. Whether it is legal or not is another matter. They should explain it properly though when taking bookings.

Relevant legislation

SELLING ALCOHOL RESPONSIBLY:
The New Mandatory Licensing Conditions
The Mandatory Code for Alcohol Retailers England and Wales April 2010

link

This is outrageous! I can understand refundable deposit. £60 for minimum spend for a pub meal on a Thursday night would be a bit much. But to charge you £60 for a cheap spirit you didn't want is awful! Sorry OP more fool you for allowing this to happen

That is not a deposit - its a booking fee .

different thing