The Black Lion, Hammersmith

Dear Jeremy B

I'm saddened that you found our service 'arrogant', but maybe it was because we'd just won 'Best Managed Pub in the UK' and 'Best Pub in London' at The 2009 Great British Pub Awards. Proud and excited, but not arrogant maybe ?

I remember your visit. My barmaid did not grudgingly remove the service, but was taken aback by the fact you were quibbling over 35p of the service charge and simply removed the whole �1.35 of it to appease you. We are used to custmers paying extra, not less.

We never hurry perfection. We clean the real ale lines before every change of barrel to ensure a perfect pint and with three others to choose from I hope your Bombardier was equally delicious.

We just have to accept we can't please everyone, but we manage to please the majority.

The Black Lion

15 Sep 2009 13:22

The Black Lion, Hammersmith

Ok barry. Maybe I did not articulate the cordial issue correctly. Let me explain. Lets look at the scenario. I charge 20p for a cordial and soda. Out of this 20p I have to pay VAT of 3p. with the remaining 17p I have to pay for the cordial which costs me about 10p. This leaves me with 7p to pay for a member of staff to serve you, the ice, slice of fruit, straw and then the energy to wash the glass, the Co2 to fizz the water, the water itself and the heating, cleaning and lighting needed to run the business, the rent, business rates etc

As we do charge a higher than average price for this particlar drink, we tell all customers the price before we serve it so you have the choice. We also offer a fresh lime alternative instead of the chemicals used to flavour the cordial which, by the way, is a well known quality brand and not a 'Happy Shopper' style brand.

I'm sorry if you find this pompus, but the minimum charge for a drink in The Black Lion is �1.20. We are after all a business.

Thank you for your comments.

The Black Lion

30 Aug 2009 13:34

The Black Lion, Hammersmith

Dear mswh

We are not a cheap pub yet, in our opionion, not overpriced. Are you also aware that riverside venues are charged premium rents ? Quality costs and thats what we deliver.

Our cordial is prcied to discourage undesireable clientelle. Why would one charge 20p and fill a table with a small spending crowd? One would loose money.

If you recieved table service and read the menu, you would have been aware that a 10% ( not 15 ) service charge would be applied. If you were not happy with the service, you are not obliged to pay for it.

How can one suggest that our burgers are ordinary when we buy in the best, freshest minced beef and add our special ingredients ? Our customers return time after time telling us that they are the best burgers they have ever eaten.

Thanks for your comments and we hope you'll be able to visit us on special occasions.

Regards

The Black Lion

16 Jul 2009 18:23

The Black Lion, Hammersmith

We have been reading these recent reviews and thought we should point out some untruths.

Most importantly is to express that Doom Bar is �3.50 a pint here, Mr Maldenman, along with all our other beers and when the place is packed to the rafters and there are glasses covering the 'glasswash area', then please excuse us for being so busy � I mean how rude of us ! Beer in the evening make a point in their terms �Don't post anything that isn't true. For obvious reasons�

Our staff are far from inexperienced. The current manager was judged to be the London Regional winner of the BII Licensee of the year 2008 Award and all bar staff are professionally trained in all areas of Licensed Retail. If one is going to exaggerate the price of our beers, then one can only assume that one's head size is also exaggerated. The staff are instructed to serve a 5% head and willingly top up if ever requested.

We are not a 'Gastro Pub' by any means - We are a Traditional Pub with modern values and serve superb home made food all day everyday. We offer full table service for everyone who wants it ( which has been called 'swanning around' but yet it reduces the queues at the bar), a convivial welcome and we are gaining new business every week due to what we do and the way we do it.

For those who have been disappointed in the past, we hope you will come and try us again before making your final judgement.

24 Mar 2009 21:06