To think you can’t sit in a pub all evening and not buy a single drunk

[bagpuss90]

I belong to a small ladies group. We used to meet in a bring your own drinks venue. That sadly closed and we now meet in a local pub restaurant. There’s usually around six of us and we book a table. The last couple of times three of them didn’t buy a single thing - not a soft drink , not a coffee. When I said I was going to get a glass of wine - one of them even said “well you would!””. They’re all lovely but aibu to think the venues are struggling and you just can’t do this. Also I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before the management say something (I don’t think they’ve noticed so far) to us. I think I’m going to have to broach it on the WhatsApp group

To be honest , if I was the Landlady , I’d boot them out. Totally out of order.

Presumably anyone can drink bottled water…

They sound a bit peculiar but tbh most of the pubs round me wouldn’t be too bothered as long as some people in the group were ordering wines or coffees etc. Not okay for her to throw insults at you though so I’d say something to her if she tried that again.

EDIT: it's dropped the post I was quoting (again)it is in reply to @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle

No it's not a ridiculous comment.

Yes I know they have overheads etc. if you must know ALL the details before you can accept the difference between the two drinks was £4 & the ONLY difference was a squeeze of lime, I'm tell you. But it actually makes NO difference, that squeeze of lime cost me an extortionate £4.

my god daughter (adult) was here from overseas, staying with me. I took her out to lunch. She had a cocktail, I had a mocktail (as I was driving). We had their mixed platter/tapas type lunch for 2, (I can't remember how much it cost - but it's not cheap, she also had a side of fries and we both had their signature brownie, then I had coffee (2) & she had a pot of tea. I paid the table bill & as we were still chatting, enjoying their garden (mid week so plenty of spare tables) I went to the bar & got us both another drink.

I know venues are struggling & their overheads are high, but £4 for a squeeze of lime IS extortionate & unreasonable.

As I said earlier, the non buying group members are definitely unreasonable & id buy a couple of drinks to hopefully make up for them not doing so.

And do you not read posts properly?

I have already said they are unreasonable not to buy drinks. I have already said I'd buy a couple to try to make that up a bit.

of course I understand the pub has overheads but the cost of a soda at THAT pub us £0 the cost of a soda & lime is £4. A squeeze of lime costing me £4. Ridiculous.

I have since updated further to expand on my 'lime gripe'

As has been pointed out to you some places charge for soda. They still need to supply the gas and electricity, service and maintain the machine, pay for the gas and the person who delivers it.

So you were getting the soda free even although there was a cost to the venue. Your whinging about being charged for the lime is still ridiculous.

other places charging for soda is reasonable, but also irrelevant. This place does not. I wasn't getting a soda for free because I didn't have a soda.

No, it's not ridiculous, but I've run out of crayons.

Your argument that you should be able to take up space in a pub and staff time for nothing is ridiculous. Are you one of the OP's acquaintances?

I'd be embarrassed if I were in your company in public and you started whinging about this.

I see. I didn't think this was allowed any more.

OK. Well it is.

You should be embarrassed at your lack of comprehension. Try actually reading my posts or just stop showing yourself up

Oh ffs!
it’s about people not getting a drink 🤣 if they don’t want to pay then get water, nothing wrong with that, which is what you’ve seem to have a problem with 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

🤣🤣
how can you buy something that’s free??

Because of the mineral content, I can’t drink bottled water which is a complete balls ache when on holiday!

Your first venue closed and so will this venue if they sit there not buying anything, and so will the next one they think it's fine to use the facilities and space and not buy anything. Then there'll be no venues and they will complain there's nowhere to go. But making the connections is beyond people who have this mindset.

Nothing worse than tight fuckers. I would lose respect for them. Buy a cup of tea ffs. That’s the price of your social evening. What is their problem? I wish I could understand the mentality.

Tbf when I say we charge for soda I admit to using discretion as I imagine is the case in lots of places. if someone spends £20 on a bottle of wine the. Asks for a glass of soda on the side to add a splash to their glass each time I don’t charge, a vodka lime and soda they are already paying for the vodka and the lime. The small dash of soda doesn’t need payed for. A full glass of soda and lime where it’s the main part of the drink is charged for as it wouldn’t be worth the dispense cost and glass wash after and id definitely not complain if charged in that instance

I'd already spent a not inconsiderable amount for lunch for 2 & extra drinks before & after.

whether you have soda (pint of, free there) or soda & lime (£4) the glass still needs washing etc etc the only difference is a squeeze/squirt of lime. £4 is ridiculous is it not?

I have read your posts. They are embarrassing and I'd be embarrassed if I were in your company.

Very weird,

why would you be embarrassed at me buying several drinks at a 'ladies meeting'

or buying lunch, pre drinks, coffees & cold drinks after lunch.

Are you being deliberately obtuse?

Its not about them not having a drink - op isnt worried about their hydration levels ffs!

It's about them not making the slightest monetary contribution towards the venue hosting them which is the expected social norm - it is costing the pub money to be open for them to use it therefore it is reasonable for the pub to expect users to contribute, even if only a small amount. Asking for a free drink like water is taking the piss even more than just sitting there with nothing as that is then costing the pub even more in terms of using, washing a glass, server time etc.

Although, as a pp said this thread isn't about you and it seems highly unlikely that all 3 of ops friends ALSO have the same unusual medical condition that means not a drop of fluid other than tap water can pass their lips, in that case they should contribute by buying food (before you start, even if they also have another medical condition that limits what you can eat that could be a few bags of Crisps and Peanuts for the table or even to take home to their partner) or just buying a drink for their mates, or a few bottled waters to give to the next homeless person they see. Or give the staff a fiver in their tip jar. Some bare minimum effort in exchange for having a space available to use.

Because if everyone sat in pubs without ordering anything they would close - an then they'd either have nowhere to meet or would have to spend a lot more than a fiver to hire somewhere.

I can't believe you needed that spelled out to you.

Well, I would be pissed off at being in a 'meet up group' that always met somewhere where you have to spend money on refreshments. If I was a bit brassick, I probably wouldn't buy anything either (most of the time.) Especially if it was every week.

A glass of wine can cost at least a fiver in many pubs, and in some pubs, you can pay as much as £6.50 to £7.00. And cups of coffee or tea are often at least a fiver. So yeah, I can understand the reluctance of some to not want to spend money just to participate in said group!

Runs for cover........^ 🏃

Go to Wetherspoons. Free refills on coffee. The tight arses can club together and buy one, then take turns going for a refill......

Having run a small country pub in the past if you were a regular walk in I.e same time each week local people it wouldn’t be as much of an issue - if your booking a table for 6 people regularly and half aren’t ordering anything I would be annoyed as the owner because that table is being prevented to be used by 6 paying customers. 6 covers that may want to eat is potentially a big loss versus 3 people nursing a drink for hours and the other 3 not even ordering anything at all.
If I were the owner I’d ask you to move to the bar or a smaller area but appreciate some pubs don’t have the capacity, mine only had 10 tables and little comfy seating area by the fire. You’re not being unreasonable to point this out, at least stop booking the table in the meantime. Could the 3 of order a pot of tea for 2 each? It’s better than nothing at all

Calm down ffs!!!
🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️