The Merchants Inn, Rugby

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this site all about people's personal opinions on a pub?
Maybe the person who listed this pub on here should have said "no negative comments please". Its called constuctive criticism, take the rough with the smooth.
Different people want different things from a pub. It doesn't necessarilly mean the pub is bad it's just not to EVERYONE'S taste and that is not a crime.
I visited this pub a few weeks ago and got a frosty reception from a girl behind the bar. No please or thank you, not even a smile or proper eye contact. She made it feel like it was an inconvenience serving me and that is not good.
I HAVE worked in a pub and club and always tried my best to make customers feel welcome, even at 1am when I was shattered, I always smiled and had manners (after all, they cost nothing). If you cant do the job properly, then dont do it at all!
One other thing I found funny with some of your comments is how personally you take the negative feedback and how outraged you are by it. If any of you are the staff from The Merchant then I find it rather sad and immature that you pass the buck and say its the punters problem rather than addressing the issue and doing something about it (whatever happened to "the customer is always right"?) If indeed you are drinkers from the pub then I find it pathetic that you behave in such a defensive manner towards this pub. YOU cannot say all these people have not had bad experiences. If someone was complaining about my favourite pub in Leamington Spa, I would not say they were wrong or think I had the right to get personal and say it was them who had the problem. Someone doesnt like a pub you do, big deal. Whoever you are, your manners and immaturity says a lot for the pub you profess to worship so much. I know The Merchant wins a lot of awards but I also notice who is always the runner up - The Bull which is quite a dive in my opinion. Of course, Im sure people love The Bull and I would not dream of saying they were wrong for liking it, just as you have no right to say people are wrong for disliking your place of worship. I dont like ANY of the pubs in Rugby, not just this one. People go in this pub different times of different days and get served by different members of staff so you dont know what goes on in that pub every second it s open. Grow up people, let people have their opnions, they arent talking about fire bombing the place.

P.S Even though you have so many staff working all the tables are cluttered with bottles and overflowing ashtrays (on Saturday night).

29 Mar 2006 16:38