To think some hospitality businesses don’t help themselves?

[EagleMount]

It’s tough times in the hospitality business but am I being unreasonable to think some don’t help themselves?

The last two meals out the same thing happens. Get to the end of the mains and want to order desserts. Wait ages for plates to be collected. Eventually that happens but no offer of dessert menu, no offer to get more drinks.

Have to ask for dessert menu. Decide what we’re having. Then wait. And wait. And wait. Then 25 minutes late decide thats enough waiting and go and buy ice creams from the local shop on the way home, after having to pay the bill at the bar.

Thats £20-30 lost on desserts / coffees.

Neither restaurant was busy and there were plenty of staff on. Yes, I could’ve hunted someone down to order desserts but I’m not sure why I should have to conduct a manhunt to get a sticky toffee pudding.

I should add there are great places who are really on top of the upselling but some are really not maximising their opportunities.

AIBU?

We have dozens of restaurants to choose from in our upmarket local town and are down to only eating out in 2 of them due to cost and service issues.

However we just recently ate out at one of those two and were surprised to be told they now close at 9pm on a Friday and Saturday night. So from 8.30pm onwards, they were cleaning up around us and getting ready to kick us out.

So we'll possibly be down to one, an Indian restaurant with proper old fashioned service and you dont have to pre book, which is such a treat these days!

However we just recently ate out at one of those two and were surprised to be told they now close at 9pm on a Friday and Saturday night. So from 8.30pm onwards, they were cleaning up around us and getting ready to kick us out.

I work in an eating/dining pub - its busy as the price is set right - about £14-16 for a main course and £15 for carver on a Sunday. There are always plenty of staff and the tips are good - which to me is a gauge of service and quality. We dd. 600 for Sunday lunch last Sunday, so something is going right and its better than the national chains.

I have noticed though that people coming to eat, and its open from 12 midday through to 8pm, they come for tea/dinner between 5pm - 7.30pm and rarely is anyone booked for after 7.30. Thus they shut the kitchen at 8.30 and start cleaning don at 8pm. We don't though clean around people out front as it is a pub and we do get a few drinkers.

40 years ago I worked in a pub where we didn't open until 7pm and served food through until 9pm with the kitchen closing at 10pm. Times have changed as many more families eat out and food is wanted early.