The Moon Under Water, Milton Keynes

I logged on specifically to warn potential visitors about the so-called "security" regime at this pub only to see within the first five comments what seems to be a total vindication of everything I have just complained vigorously to Wetherspoons about.

My friends and I are a bunch of golfers who thought it would be nice to meet up outside of golf once a month on a Thursday evening for a meal. We've been doing this for 6 months now, and for the first time decided to try the city rather than restaurants on the estates. We had a nice meal at the Rajdhani next to Waitrose, and moved on to the Moon Under Water in Xscape, probably chosen because one of my friends has used it at lunch-times fairly regularly over the years.

My first thought was it looked more attractively laid out than I'd expected, though this plus was evened out when we sat down into the sofas/upholstery which were unpleasantly plasticky and unappealing. Anyway that's about it for the general review.

The six of came in after 10 but well before closing - we didn't even know what time closing was, but assumed it might be a little later than 11, being in Xscape. We are all aged between 45 and 65, professional people or retired professional in the case of three of us, and not the type that any bar staff anywhere would have to be concerned about.

After some time a suited gentleman - obviously door staff - came up to the raised area where we were sitting and moved us and everyone else with outstretched arms to the far end of the pub. There were murmurs from people around us as to why this was necessary, two perfectly decent young ladies next to us for instance, but I can't recall what his answer was. No need for us to cause a fuss so we did as were told only to be told a few minutes later that we all had to move again (everyone not only my group). It seemed he was intent on us moving outside. There were several protests from customers, but one of my friends pointed out that the one guy doing all the enforcement seemed to be relishing the discomfort he was initiating. Of course no-one resisted; I am 64 and been in countless situations over the years when you are being treated in a heavy-handed fashion, and this was little more than another one of those. The "security manager" looked like he'd welcome anyone giving him an argument; you've seen it all before.

Maybe he saw there were a group of us; I was the tallest; I was the only one with a full pint of beer; anyway he reached to take my pint from me which I let him have, and in the next breath told me to get out. When my friend asked what offence I had caused the reply was I'd made a "gesture". ????

I've been drinking (beer) in bars all my life and have never ever been thrown out of a pub anywhere in the world. Outside a gentleman came up to me and said he was a publican himself and was sick of seeing this "psycho bully" as he put it, in action. That didn't make me feel any happier and I was more concerned for the safety of two of my friends who had remained inside to confront said doorman/manager. Ironically one of them is the recently-retired manager of one of THE most respected establishments in Mayfair.

I would imagine one of the stated aims of "security management" when his company tout for the business is to "protect" the public; to train staff so that through their actions they reduce the likelihood of trouble occuring. What a joke in the case of this individual! Moving to take a glass from a potential troublemaker is a pretty stupid move unless you know he's perfectly harmless, in which case why do it in the first place? As other people outside, more familiar with his modus operandi were queueing up to tell me. he loves it when customers resist.

I have to say the other gentleman at the door was perfectly civil and calm. J D Wetherspoon apparently have no connection with the security company operating on their premises!

What nonsense! I've written to them, and would advise potential evening visitors that this is not like other Wetherspoons you may know and love. Take notice of the other reviews and let them attract the would-be trouble-makers they deserve.

13 Feb 2011 22:46