The Dispensary, Liverpool

Absolutely NOT recommended. They would not provide me with a glass of tap water, and when I complained I was barred.

My wife and I went to the Dispensary in Renshaw Street last night (16/1/15). The Dispensary was one of my favourite pubs and serves great beer - I've been going in there for years. I ordered a pint and a glass of red wine, plus a glass of water, since my wife likes to also drink water when she's drinking wine. No problem. When I went back to the bar for another pint and another glass of water, I was told they had no more water; the first glass had been from a bottle they keep in the chiller, and it had run out. The barmaid then offered to sell me a bottle of water for 75p. I said I wanted tap-water, but she told me they don't have a tap behind the bar - which seems incredible, and is surely illegal in itself for a pub (what about the hygiene aspect?). At this point I told my wife. She told the barmaid and another older red-haired woman behind the bar that it was a legal requirement to provide water on request. The red-haired woman disputed this, became aggressive and told my wife she was arrogant. It all became very embarrassing. The argument escalated (though I didn't swear or lose my temper and I was in no way inebriated), and the red-haired woman went on to bar me. I then took this up with the manager. He stood 'in my face' and reiterated that he didn't have a water tap behind the bar and that the water they'd served me with the first pint was 'kindly provided from his private supply'. He proudly told me that his water, at 75p a bottle, was cheaper than at Sainsbury's over the road. He then went on to tell me I was barred again, and physically pushed me out of the pub.

My understanding, from reading the Government website is that one of the mandatory licensing conditions is 'mandatory provision of free tap water'. I have since raised this with Citizens Advice and Liverpool Council, and am awaiting their response.

I will certainly not be going there again (well I can't since I'm barred) - which is a shame, because they do serve great beer. But I won't be intimidated by, or spoken to, by rude and aggressive people.

17 Jan 2015 16:57