The Abrook Arms, Uxbridge

Since Jackie and Martine have left, the Abrook's become a no-go. Went there with my quiz team last Wed. for what will be the last time.

From the word go, the new staff were unwelcoming. When I tried to buy a round of drinks with a card, I was curtly told that they no-longer take cards as it "ain't worf it." I explained that the nearest cashpoint is a good half hour's walk away, in the centre of Uxbridge, and how much business they were going to lose as a result, and got an unprintable earful as a result. So, they ended up with half of the dozen or so customers they had in that night - one of the two teams that bothered to show up for a quiz which former had six or seven teams and a packed pub - nursing less -than-half pints of Coke (short-served) for the night, as that's all the change we had on us. Their own fault.
What's more, one of my team members is diabetic, and they gave him regular Coke, rather than the Diet Coke he'd specifically asked for, which could've been fatal!
Then they were overheard making racist and homophobic comments about parties that had enquired about booking their function room and accommodation which they'd refused on the grounds that they were fully booked (a blatant lie), as well as similar comments about our quiz party, for being intellectual. To this can be added general grumbles and bad-mouthing about us from them for the rest of the night.
Then, to top it all, they turned off the lights over our table as soon as the quiz ended, AT TEN-THIRTY ON A WEDNESDAY! when we still had drinks! I - we- have never been made to feel so unwelcome in a pub in all my life! We were regulars, travelling into Uxbridge from as far as Edgware, Bushey, Berkshire, and Pinner because of the draw the pub formerly had. Not going there, again. Neither is Jackie, who was visibly upset at what had happened to the pub she cared so much for.

Since then, if we've passed the pub and there's been ANYONE inside, it's looked like a Chav-magnet, rather than the friendly family pub it once was. But mostly, it's dead.

This stinks of the brewery wishing to kill the pub, so that they can sell the land to a developer.

Best avoided.

5 Apr 2012 02:13