The Palm Tree, Mile End

WARNING: DO NOT VISIT THIS PUB. I WAS RUDELY WELCOMED BY THE LANDLORD WITH THE WORDS "WE DON'T SERVE PEOPLE WHO JUST COME IN". THAT'S ODD, HOW ELSE DOES IT WORK? I INTERPRET THIS AS A VERY STRANGE FORM OF XENOPHOBIA THAT I STILL STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND. ORDERING DRINKS AND CRISPS IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE WITH THE LANDLORDS HUGE EGO. WE WERE 8 PEOPLE AND SPENT CONSIDERABLE MONEY ON DRINKS THAT WERE OVERPRICED. I ASKED FOR ONE GLASS OF TAP WATER FOR MYSELF, IRONICALLY, IN ORDER TO REHYDRATE AND GET MORE DRINKS AND SPEND MORE MONEY. STAFF, LANDLADY AND FINALLY LANDLORD ALL REFUSED WITH ATTITUDES RANGING FROM DISMISSIVE TO DOWNRIGHT AGGRESSIVE. THE LANDLORD MADE A HUGE DEAL ABOUT IT AND BASICALLY ASKED ALL OF US TO LEAVE WITHOUT DELAY. AS OF NOW, THERE ARE 57 REVIEWS ON THIS PUB IN THIS FORUM AND 15 ALMOST EXACTLY CORRESPOND WITH MY IMPRESSION OF THE PALM TREE. NEVER HAVE I BEEN TREATED SO BADLY. DO NOT VISIT THE PALM TREE. INSTEAD, MAKE YOUR OWN DISCOVERY OF AN EAST END PUB THAT HAS NOT BEEN SPOILT BY REVIEWS IN THE GUARDIAN. THE NOTION THAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER A "TRUE GEM" IS A GIANT MYTH WHICH THIS FORUM IS INCREASINGLY DEBUNKING.

4 Nov 2009 21:47