The Albert, Victoria

After a day sitting in a seminar in a not-very-well air-conditioned building I dragged my colleague down to The Albert (been there a few times before and admitedly it does have a nice old pub feel) for a few pints on work expenses before heading home.

After a bit of friendly banter with the bar staff, who poured us two lovely looking pints, I got out my company card. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: Can you put it on my card?

Barwoman: Sorry there's a �10 minimum for cards.

Me: No problem, we'll stay for a couple so I'll start a tab.

Barwoman: Sorry, we don't do tabs.

Me: Okay... well can I pay for four pints and you can pour the other two later?

Barwoman, looking at the manager for confirmation: Sorry, we can't do that.

Me: Right... well make it �10 and I will give you the change back once I get the second round.

Barwoman, looking increasingly annoyed: Sorry, we don't do cash back.

So with them leaving me literally no way of paying for my drink, we left the two pints on the bar and went down the road (The Greencoat Boy - nice wee bar and happy to take my card!). So they lost two pints plus two thirsty customers for the evening.

The whole thing left me rather bemused. I would understand bar staff enforcing what are rather arbitrary rules but the manager was standing right there and was quite happy to stonewall me in this way. At lot of pubs enforce a minimum spend but I've never experienced this before - with a nice dose of attitude thrown in.

We won't be going back.

25 Jun 2010 20:51