Founders Arms, Bankside

I am somewhat relieved to see that other people have experienced the same complete and utter lack of customer care in the Founders Arms that I experienced!

I can honestly say that this is the worst pub I have ever been in terms of atmosphere, staff and service. Even the view does not come close to making up for the staff's rude behaviour, utter contempt for customers and complete lack of people skills.

It took a full five minutes to get served dispite my friend and I being the only people at the bar! With no apology when I eventually was served either.

I went there on my birthday last year and I spoke to the deputy 'manager' about our group being seated together to eat and was given a cursory look and a half answer of 'it's just not possible' from which there was no budging him. So we asked if we could move the tables together to sit and have a beer instead. The answer was no again and no good reason was given for this. Deciding to just drop it I sat back down at my table and tried to enjoy my pint with my friends (12 people trying to cram around two tables dispite the pub being 3/4 full).

Suddenly, and much to my amazement, I was confronted by another member of staff who accused me of calling the 'manager' an offensive word (which was not true). I was flabbergasted. The member of staff in question had been over the other side of the pub and there was no way he was in a position to hear anything I had said and I told him so. To this he replied "I can lip read!!" which although made me laugh it also made me cross as he was mistaken. I asked him if he was paid extra for this dubious 'skill' and then my whole group was promptly thrown out of the pub!

I will never return to this pub again and frequently dissuade friends from making the same mistake I did.

Fortunately the Anchor just along the river was more than happy to take us and seat us together. Ended up staying there the whole day and had a great time.

10 Feb 2005 14:29