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Barred from a pub unjustly

  • 12-06-2007 12:52pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭


    I am so frustrated. I was in a bar in Belfast not Sunday just past but the Sunday before. The bar closed at midnight but I had went up to the bar and was served a pint a few minutes before midnight. The bar was still open and there was no problem getting served. Anyway, at midnight on the dot the music was turned off and the bar lights turned on. Within seconds the bouncers were in everyone's face roaring "Right folks make your way to the door please! Finish up or your drink will be taken off you" etc. I was not happy about this so in a very reasonable and measured way, I asked the bouncer why, when the bar had served me a pint literally 4 minutes earlier, were they threatening to take my drink off me and kick me out. At this point, three bouncers descended upon and started getting super-aggressive. Thankfully I kept my cool and simply asked them if they thought what they were doing was fair.

    Anyway, I eventually downed my pint and as I was leaving one of the bouncers said, "Right pal, you're f**king barred". I thought he just said it in temper but I went back to the same bar on Saturday night just there where some mates were. The same bouncer happened to be on the door. He stood in front of me and said, "I thought you were told you were barred". I simply said that I thought it was a heat of the moment thing. He said I was barred and said "You were an a**ehole, you can come in if you apologise to me, otherwise take a walk". As a matter of principle I refused to apologise and walked away. Now I don't care too much about the bar, but it is the principle of some bouncer being a bloody tyrant and a bully. I want to put it right.

    Has anyone else been in a similar position and how did you deal with it? I just hate people throwing their weight around like that. :mad:


«1

Comments

  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,125 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    Ask to see the manager and explain the situation to him. It's better if you are there quite a bit and he recognises you if only to see.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 273 ✭✭stipey


    That's UK licensing laws. There is no such thing as last orders at 11:30 and then drinking up time for another hour and a half.

    I was on a course in London and at last orders on of the lads that was with us did the Irish thing and bought a double round. That was fun!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,589 ✭✭✭Hail 2 Da Chimp


    Typical bouncer attitude...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,579 ✭✭✭jimi_t


    Jigsaw wrote:
    I am so frustrated...I just hate people throwing their weight around like that. :mad:

    I'd say just get over it. Pubs reserve the right to refuse admission, whether you think it's justified or not - talking to the manager isn't going to do anything, he's not going to risk losing a bouncer for the sake of one, apparently argumentative, punter.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 848 ✭✭✭MayMay


    Ask to see the manager and explain the situation to him. It's better if you are there quite a bit and he recognises you if only to see.

    Ask to see the manager and get that ape in trouble. Very unfair.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,126 ✭✭✭homah_7ft


    jimi_t wrote:
    I'd say just get over it. Pubs reserve the right to refuse admission, whether you think it's justified or not - talking to the manager isn't going to do anything, he's not going to risk losing a bouncer for the sake of one, apparently argumentative, punter.
    Are bouncers that hard to replace?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    Bouncers are supposed to be good decision makers, and be good with people. But people who make good decisions and are likeable probably don't need to work as bouncers. So you, by and large, just get a group of skangers. If it's somewhere that you and your mates go to a lot, then either speak to the manager by phone if you can't get in to see him (maybe go during the day when they may not have security on the door), or go somewhere else.

    To be honest, if somewhere banned one of my mates for rubbish like that, me and the boys would go elsewhere.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,125 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    jimi_t wrote:
    I'd say just get over it. Pubs reserve the right to refuse admission, whether you think it's justified or not - talking to the manager isn't going to do anything, he's not going to risk losing a bouncer for the sake of one, apparently argumentative, punter.

    I really doubt the bouncer is going to lose his job for this.
    Someone has said that it's part of uk law that there is no drinking up time. Just explain to him you didn't know and apologise and I'd say he'll let you back.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    As already pointed out the laws are different, you should really make yourself aware of what way things work in the country you plan on drinking in.

    At the end of the day the guy went overboard but frankly having people arguing with you at closing time is the biggest test of the night, without a doubt.

    I suggest you go in during the day and talk to the duty manager and explain what happened and why. Don't get self righteous, just say "Hey , I really didn't know what the score was" and see what way it goes.

    To be honest it never ceases to amaze me why people would WANT to go back to a pub that would treat a customer so poorly to begin with.

    Options people, they are out there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    I doubt its the law in the UK & N.I. that you can be served a drink only to have it taken back right away.

    I wouldn't apologise to the idiot, like you said he was being a bully.

    If I really wanted to drink there again I'd do one of two things.

    I'd either drop in and talk to the manager. Do it properly, ring the premises and make an apointment to see him and explain the situation. Most likely he'll talk to his door staff and you'll be back in.

    Or go talk to the manager, tell him the situation NEVER happened. His door staff will say it did. You ask for a copy of either an incident book, or security video of the incident. The club won't have either. At this stage you tell him your going to talk to your solicitor and leave it with him.

    If he doesn't get back to you, employ a solicitor and sue the premises.

    I've 15+ year's bar/club experience and this is the best advice I can give you if you really want to get back in again.

    Failing that, wait until the guy is replaced. Most clubs have a high security turn over rate, especially idiots like this guy.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 273 ✭✭stipey


    I doubt its the law in the UK & N.I. that you can be served a drink only to have it taken back right away.

    Why wouldn't it be?

    They are entitled by law to sell drink up to whatever time last orders is.
    The landlord is running a business - with the aim of making a profit.
    The more alcohol they sell the greater their profit.

    At the end of the day, you are drinking from their glass so they obviously won't let you take that with you. (If they have to buy more glasses it eats into their profits).

    The UK police actually take closing times and checking out times seriously. They don't really do the sigh and "come on now, everybody out and we'll say no more about it" that is regularly the case here. (If they let you stay they stand a good chance of facing a hefty fine - again eating into their profits).

    I presume if you had another container that you could transfer the drink into and be on your merry way they would have no problem with that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    stipey wrote:
    Why wouldn't it be?

    They are entitled by law to sell drink up to whatever time last orders is.
    The landlord is running a business - with the aim of making a profit.
    The more alcohol they sell the greater their profit.

    At the end of the day, you are drinking from their glass so they obviously won't let you take that with you. (If they have to buy more glasses it eats into their profits).

    The UK police actually take closing times and checking out times seriously. They don't really do the sigh and "come on now, everybody out and we'll say no more about it" that is regularly the case here. (If they let you stay they stand a good chance of facing a hefty fine - again eating into their profits).

    I presume if you had another container that you could transfer the drink into and be on your merry way they would have no problem with that.

    Yea riiiiiiiiiiight :rolleyes:


    Moving right along.


    DRAGAN I wonder if you've ever had the experience whereby someone asked for the security tapes or incident book?.

    I have once, in a very well known cafe-bar in Swords. The owner's barrister advised him to sort out the case or he'd be "taken for an easy 40 grand".

    I'm sure the laws regarding defamation etc aren't too different in N.I.


  • Subscribers Posts: 32,858 ✭✭✭✭5starpool


    Mairt wrote:
    I doubt its the law in the UK & N.I. that you can be served a drink only to have it taken back right away.
    It is this way in all of Britland, including NI. I was taken aback the first time I came across this in London about 7 years ago, so I have learned to expect it now when I am in pubs in the UK.

    As for the bouncer, he was just being a typical ignorant bouncer. A sizeable minority of them are in my experience.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 273 ✭✭stipey


    Yea riiiiiiiiiiight

    Any particular part of that (apart from the last line which was obviously tongue in cheek) that you wish to address or are you just eager to neatly side step all of it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    Mairt wrote:
    DRAGAN I wonder if you've ever had the experience whereby someone asked for the security tapes or incident book?.

    4 times to date. The problem was that I was always able to provide whatever it was they requested. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭Jigsaw


    I think maybe I should go in by day and try to have a word with the manager and explain the situation. I don't want to lie about it because I want to be 100% sure that right is on my side. Thing is, the bar is nothing really special, but the problem is twofold.

    1. Virtually all my mates drink there and whilst there has not been a problem so far, it's only a matter of time until there is.

    2. The bar is literally 30 seconds walk from my apartment so it was dead handy.

    3. I am more concerned with the principle of thing. I was seething as I walked away from the bar last Saturday night. The bouncer was there calling me an a**ehole to my face but saying that he would let me back in if I apologised to him. KInda humiliating when there were loads of people drinking and smoking outside in the nice weather.

    Luckily I sort of well in with a few people in there. I am friendly with a couple of people who DJ in the place and because I went there quite regularly a good few of the bar staff know me on first name terms.

    Most importantly, I just want the bouncer to know that can't get away with treating people like that. I simply brought it to his attention that I had just bought a pint yet was being asked to leave but it was like he only had one mode - aggression. He could have easily seen that I was not an aggressive fighting type and simply said "Sorry mate, we're just carrying out the orders of the management" and there would have been no problem, I'd have just left.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,399 ✭✭✭✭r3nu4l


    Lads, this is common practice in much of the UK. You order a pint two minutes before chucking out time and if you're not finished then tough sh1t.

    In many places it is the pub owner who instructs the bouncers to clear the place quickly. They are doing exactly what they are told and they do remove and bar people for not drinking up and getting out when told.

    Every pub does this slightly differently. In some places it's a gentle reminder and then a stern warning. In others a team of bouncers methodically clear one table at a time. Staff remove full glasses while the bouncers hover over your shoulder. Attempts to stop the staff removing your glass are not advised here!

    In Cambridge many owners of smaller pubs tends to call time and give some drinking up time but I've been in London and physically removed within seconds of the bouncers ordering people to stop drinking. Likewise I've been in London pubs where a five minute grace period is allowed. I'm sure there are some where lock-ins occur ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 28,128 ✭✭✭✭Mossy Monk


    Mairt wrote:
    I doubt its the law in the UK & N.I. that you can be served a drink only to have it taken back right away.

    They can sell drink up until closing time. Not their fault that someone buys drink a few minutes before closing time.


  • Subscribers Posts: 16,611 ✭✭✭✭copacetic


    5starpool wrote:
    It is this way in all of Britland, including NI. I was taken aback the first time I came across this in London about 7 years ago, so I have learned to expect it now when I am in pubs in the UK.

    As for the bouncer, he was just being a typical ignorant bouncer. A sizeable minority of them are in my experience.

    agreed, first couple of times its happened I've been shocked but it is pretty standard practise to serve right up until closing. Then move people out straight away.

    To the OP, they asked you to leave after closing and by the sounds of it you refused and took your time finishing your drink. They barred you because you were causing them to break the law and were likely to do the same again. They were damn right imo..


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Dragan wrote:
    4 times to date. The problem was that I was always able to provide whatever it was they requested. :D


    After the incident in Swords I always made a point of recording everything and insisting on all staff member's doing like wise.

    Its crazy that the public (and publicans) don't appricate just how vulnurable to law suits bar/clubs are.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,333 ✭✭✭Zambia


    1st up OP feel free to PM the name of the place as I would think I know it.

    Secondly the Bouncer as for the laws regarding drinking up was within his rights but executed them poorly.

    If this is a club pub where you go regularly I would say the turn over rate is not as high as down south as some of of the door staff up here are embedded they wont do anything else or just cant.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭Kinetic^


    Typical bouncer attitude...


    Typical retard attitude.......:rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    Mairt wrote:
    After the incident in Swords I always made a point of recording everything and insisting on all staff member's doing like wise.

    Its crazy that the public (and publicans) don't appricate just how vulnurable to law suits bar/clubs are.

    Yeah I know. It's crazy.

    All 4 of my incidents were physical based, so I was sure that I had all records from myself, other doorstaff, and witnesses recorded. I also ensure I review the tapes just to make the I was absolutely spot on with any judgements I made.

    One was incredible funny actually, a guy broke a pint glass and tried to stab me in the face with it and when he ended up coming off the worse he tried to have me arrested for assualt.

    I laughed. :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Re. being pushed along right after being served a pint at closing time.

    Thats a practice done here too, but it doesn't mean its law. Its just a practice thats excepted, but doesn't have precedence in law.

    When I worked in Fitzsimons in Templebar that was our policy. Same as a club I worked in for awhile in Leixlip.

    But regardless of the finer points of publican law's, the security man who removed the OP was clearly in the wrong and the OP going back to have a reasonable chat with the bar manager is his best course of action.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭Frankiestylee


    Total culture shock woh?

    I remember getting a pint literally seconds before I heard a ding-a-ling bell and it was a desperate move to get to the furthest corner of the bar to buy myself some drinking time :P

    Do you have legal grounds to sue in such circumstances? I thought the manager had the right to refuse admission?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 68 ✭✭poker_face


    Similar thing happened to me when I was in bristol, I bought a drink a couple of mins b4 last orders & a few minutes later I had this big bald animal roaring in my face. When I started to politely explain that I only need a minute or two to finish up, another bouncer piped up by saying "it's always the same with you f***ing paddies". We got barred and we started laughing saying "we're going home tomorrow so we couldn't give a toss".

    I've heard its the same in alot of the UK, its bad form if you ask me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭Kinetic^


    Dragan wrote:
    One was incredible funny actually, a guy broke a pint glass and tried to stab me in the face with it and when he ended up coming off the worse he tried to have me arrested for assualt.

    I laughed. :D


    :eek: ........glad he got pummelled!!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    Kenny 5 wrote:
    :eek: ........glad he got pummelled!!!!

    Nah, nothing like that. It only took a right cross and a well placed knee.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭Kinetic^


    Dragan wrote:
    Nah, nothing like that. It only took a right cross and a well placed knee.

    Aye but he was probably KO'd........poor fella, gotta love a chancer though.


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  • Subscribers Posts: 16,611 ✭✭✭✭copacetic


    Mairt wrote:
    Re. being pushed along right after being served a pint at closing time.

    Thats a practice done here too, but it doesn't mean its law. Its just a practice thats excepted, but doesn't have precedence in law.

    When I worked in Fitzsimons in Templebar that was our policy. Same as a club I worked in for awhile in Leixlip.

    But regardless of the finer points of publican law's, the security man who removed the OP was clearly in the wrong and the OP going back to have a reasonable chat with the bar manager is his best course of action.

    it's a fair bit different here as we have last orders so no-one should be served a drink anywhere near actual 'closing time'.

    It also certainly isn't the normal practise here to move people out at closing time, have never seen that. although rarely frequent fitzsimons for obivous reasons.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Ok, regards UK licencing laws.

    Most information I can find is in PDF format and I can't 'cut & paste' it in here.

    Here's what I found.

    Under their licencing law's 1964 pubs and clubs must give twenty minutes drink up time. This information must be published and posted behind the bar.

    But if a bar/club calls time twenty minutes before last order's are served either by sounding a bell or clearly calling "Last order's" then they can insist on you leaving the premises on closing time without giving anymore 'grace'.

    So if the OP can show that neither a bell or shouted warning was given twenty minutes before closing the club are clearly in the wrong.

    Although it would be easier to go talk to the manager and explain his circumstances.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,100 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    Mairt wrote:
    Ok, regards UK licencing laws.

    Most information I can find is in PDF format and I can't 'cut & paste' it in here.

    Here's what I found.

    Under their licencing law's 1964 pubs and clubs must give twenty minutes drink up time. This information must be published and posted behind the bar.

    But if a bar/club calls time twenty minutes before last order's are served either by sounding a bell or clearly calling "Last order's" then they can insist on you leaving the premises on closing time without giving anymore 'grace'.

    So if the OP can show that neither a bell or shouted warning was given twenty minutes before closing the club are clearly in the wrong.

    Although it would be easier to go talk to the manager and explain his circumstances.

    Did the UK not change their laws recently and also AFAIK N.I has different laws again.

    As for getting kicked out just after buying a drink, that happens the world over. It's up to you to know the rules. I'm sure the bouncer hears the same story off every person every night of the week and is sick of it. You where stopping him doing his job and causing hassle. Why couldn't you just neck the drink and walk out?
    Also going to the manager isn't going to do any good. He may un-bar you but whats to stop all the bouncers stopping you going in saying your drunk.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Del2005 wrote:
    Did the UK not change their laws recently and also AFAIK N.I has different laws again.

    As for getting kicked out just after buying a drink, that happens the world over. It's up to you to know the rules. I'm sure the bouncer hears the same story off every person every night of the week and is sick of it. You where stopping him doing his job and causing hassle. Why couldn't you just neck the drink and walk out?
    Also going to the manager isn't going to do any good. He may un-bar you but whats to stop all the bouncers stopping you going in saying your drunk.


    You may very well be right regarding the laws changing. I'm in work at the moment and limited as to the time I can google UK laws.

    As for the rest, I couldn't agree with you more. Nothing like common sense, but the OP is standing on a matter of principle.

    If it was me I'd go talk to the manager, apologise for any inconvenience caused to the staff and accept his decision. Or else I'd give it awhile before going back, because you can bet with an attitude like that the bouncer won't be working there too long. Most guys like that get moved along pretty quickly.

    Btw DRAGAN if your heading to UFC-72 this Saturday, best of luck and you'd better neck those pints of Harp they all love up there!. I won't be travelling myself as I'm fighthing this Saturday in Dublin. Enjoy UFC-72 if you go.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    Mairt wrote:
    Btw DRAGAN if your heading to UFC-72 this Saturday, best of luck and you'd better neck those pints of Harp they all love up there!. I won't be travelling myself as I'm fighthing this Saturday in Dublin. Enjoy UFC-72 if you go.

    Sadly i'm not travellin up. I'm saving my pennies to hit up a stronger card later in the year. I really want to see certain people fight and am willing to wait for that chance.

    What are you fighting in and where? Best of luck dude!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    you won't get anywhere googling "UK Law", thee is no such thing. You have the laws of England and Wales, Scottish Law and Northern Iirish law. All very different. In England the pubs, subject to licensing restrictions, are entitled to open 24 hours a day, but need a licence to do this.

    When I lived there (It may have changed) the law stated that a period of ten minutes drinking up time is allowed following "Time", this may be extended at the discretion of the landlord to 20 minutes. Generally this is fairly flexible but as in Ireland, bouncers can be a law to themselves. "Last Orders" is usually rung ten minutes before time to advise customers the bar is closing.

    You do need to remember, that you do not have a right to enter a Public House, so the bouncers can throw you out for whatever reason they like and refuse entry if they are pig headed enough.

    Bouncers in England (In certain parts anyway) need a licence, which includes handling aggression, first aid and identifying possible drugs use. Civil Liberties and human rights are, I belive, not part of the course:rolleyes:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Dragan wrote:
    What are you fighting in and where? Best of luck dude!


    Nothing much, just a small Judo thingy. Shouldn't be a problem, I'm feeling strong & fit. Plus I'm pretty chilled this week, light training, some swimming and watching lots of Judo on Youtube.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭Jigsaw


    copacetic wrote:
    agreed, first couple of times its happened I've been shocked but it is pretty standard practise to serve right up until closing. Then move people out straight away.

    To the OP, they asked you to leave after closing and by the sounds of it you refused and took your time finishing your drink. They barred you because you were causing them to break the law and were likely to do the same again. They were damn right imo..

    I can't agree with this. I am not going to separate bouncer and bar as such. If an establishment is willing to sell me a product for consumption on their premises, they should surely give me a reasonable opportunity to do so. Admittedly not all night of course. Now I can take my beer pretty well and did down it after the argument in question, but I was irritated at being served something and then immediately being told to set it down and leave.

    I know that bouncers in general probably get a lot of eejits trying it on at the end of the night, but I cannot stress enough, I am not one of these people.

    Copacetic, fair enough if you think that but at no point did I refuse to leave nor did I take my time finishing my pint. I was hounded out of the place literally three minutes after having bought a pint of guinness and simply asked why I couldn't be given a few minutes to finish my pint in peace as I had literally just bought it. I asked this in a calm and collected manner. It was only my third and final pint so I was not p1ssed. Yet the reaction of the bouncers was like I had insulted their mother or something, completely disproportionate. They were looking for an fight and when they didn't get one from me and instead got someone with a brain, able to speak sensibly and ask a reasonable question they just went into default mode of aggresssion. There were also other people in the bar who were in the bar who were not being asked to leave but as they enjoy "local celebrity" status it seems they were exempt from the rules that were applied so rigidly to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 738 ✭✭✭bbbbb


    Hmmm, if it was you're local, just round the corner from your appartment, I would have expected you to know already about the short drinking up time. Or was this a once off or your first time there?

    I reckon the bouncer(s) took you for a hot head, for what ever reason, that's why you were surrounded immediately. Being asked to apologise at the door the next time was a test of this. The fact that you weren't willing to eat a little humble pie and say sorry will have made the bouncer think he was right.


  • Subscribers Posts: 16,611 ✭✭✭✭copacetic


    Jigsaw wrote:
    I can't agree with this. I am not going to separate bouncer and bar as such. If an establishment is willing to sell me a product for consumption on their premises, they should surely give me a reasonable opportunity to do so. Admittedly not all night of course. Now I can take my beer pretty well and did down it after the argument in question, but I was irritated at being served something and then immediately being told to set it down and leave.

    I know that bouncers in general probably get a lot of eejits trying it on at the end of the night, but I cannot stress enough, I am not one of these people.

    Copacetic, fair enough if you think that but at no point did I refuse to leave nor did I take my time finishing my pint. I was hounded out of the place literally three minutes after having bought a pint of guinness and simply asked why I couldn't be given a few minutes to finish my pint in peace as I had literally just bought it. I asked this in a calm and collected manner. It was only my third and final pint so I was not p1ssed. Yet the reaction of the bouncers was like I had insulted their mother or something, completely disproportionate. They were looking for an fight and when they didn't get one from me and instead got someone with a brain, able to speak sensibly and ask a reasonable question they just went into default mode of aggresssion. There were also other people in the bar who were in the bar who were not being asked to leave but as they enjoy "local celebrity" status it seems they were exempt from the rules that were applied so rigidly to me.

    well apologies for implying you took your time. if it was 3 minutes that is pretty damn quick. when you said
    Anyway, I eventually downed my pint

    I assumed this had been a fair while later!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,331 ✭✭✭✭bronte


    Wow, didn't know they practised that in the uk, usually i find they're reasonable enough as long as you don't take the piss.
    Some places in town can be really pushy though.
    Mairt, you must have worked in the same nightclub I did in leixlip!!
    Fun times!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    bronte wrote:
    Wow, didn't know they practised that in the uk, usually i find they're reasonable enough as long as you don't take the piss.
    Some places in town can be really pushy though.
    Mairt, you must have worked in the same nightclub I did in leixlip!!
    Fun times!


    Probably. I worked in the old 'Rock-a-fellas' before the O-Zone opened and Highway 66. I never worked in the Hitcher.

    Fun times indeed, Leixlip was by far and away the most violent place I've ever worked. And when I worked there the local garda station closed at 11:30pm!!!!. After that it was survival of the fittest.

    Oh, but the local skirt :p Leixlip girls rocked, and you probably had my sloppy seconds :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭Jigsaw


    bbbbb wrote:
    Hmmm, if it was you're local, just round the corner from your appartment, I would have expected you to know already about the short drinking up time. Or was this a once off or your first time there?

    I reckon the bouncer(s) took you for a hot head, for what ever reason, that's why you were surrounded immediately. Being asked to apologise at the door the next time was a test of this. The fact that you weren't willing to eat a little humble pie and say sorry will have made the bouncer think he was right.

    The bar in question was my local and I had been there loads of times. I knew they were pretty quick with clearing out, but prior to this they had always been reasonable, as had I, precisely because it was my local.

    There is no way that they considered me a hothead because I inquired about the situation whilst sitting down and in a very non-confrontational way. In fact on several occasions throughout the conversation I asked them calmly not to be so aggressive towards me as I was simply asking a question.

    The reason that I did not apologise is because I stood by my principles. I don't believe I did anything wrong and was not prepared to apologise because to do so would let him feel that he can get away with it and have people come back crawling to him and I just cannot do that. At no point did I raise my voice or be aggressive, I simply asked was it fair that a pint be served at 11:57pm and that I be hunted out the door at 12:03am, and I did so in a rational manner. At the end of the day, is that a justifiable reason to bar someone? If I started a fight or called one of the bar staff a cnut or something, then fair enough. I just think to be indefinitely barred for what I did is unreasonable.

    As for the whole asking for an apology thing, surely that is immaterial to being barred. I would have thought that if you did something wrong, then you did something wrong and would have to take the punishment like a man. It's hard to describe unless you were there but take it from me, the bouncer was simply asking for an apology in front of his bouncer mates to score some petty victory. I can draw attention once again to my so called offence. I mean, ffs, to get barred for that, especially since I had been there so often and had been a regular, well behaved customer. Just don't think it is on.

    I may have to suffer for abiding by my principles but I point blank refuse to apologise for asking what appears to me to be a perfectly reasonable question.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Mairt - from my experience of drinking in London, the law you quote is pretty much what they all do - they ring the bell around 15 minutes before last orders, but will continue to serve right up to the end. Five minutes afterwards, you're out on your ear, whether you had drank your pint or not.

    In Ireland they call last orders 5-10 minutes beforehand, and there's a rush to the bar to stock up. Then everyone takes the next hour to finish their drinks.

    It's a minor culture shock for us Irish, as in our heads "Last orders" means "You're not going to get any more drink", not "It's almost time to leave".
    I simply asked was it fair that a pint be served at 11:57pm and that I be hunted out the door at 12:03am
    Well, yeah. They didn't force you to buy a pint. You knew that the bar was almost closed, I assume you knew the law, and you made the decision to buy the pint.

    The rest of us weren't there, and have no idea how drunk you were or weren't. Often people have no idea the next day how they came across, they simply assume that it was as they remembered it. If you'd had a few pints on you, you ma well have been more stubborn, brash and forceful than you would normally be, so as Dragan alludes to, the bouncer was simply sick of putting up with ****.
    If you don't apologise to him, then that's an indicator to him that you don't care, and he'll just have to keep throwing you out the same way again and again.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,154 ✭✭✭Oriel


    Why don't you actually talk to the management, instead of whinging about it here?
    Let us know how you get on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭Jigsaw


    Oriel wrote:
    Why don't you actually talk to the management, instead of whinging about it here?
    Let us know how you get on.

    Just not had a chance yet with work and things. I can't go down after work because they have the door staff usually on already by that point so it's not worth the hassle.

    I'll hopefully get the chance to pop down at lunch time today. I personally don't think it will do any good. I reckon the manager will just close ranks even though he will recognise me as a good customer. He would probably rather lose a customer when the alternative is to potentially undermine the bouncer's authority (that being the case in his eyes, not mine). I'll let you all know how I got on!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,982 ✭✭✭Caliden


    Learn how to apologise without actually meaning it. I'm sure your principles are important to you but it seems that this pub is important to you too.

    You don't even need to be sincere, just let it go and apologise.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,154 ✭✭✭Oriel


    Phone in advance and make sure there is somebody there to talk to.
    All you are looking is to be unbarred, not an apology.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,432 ✭✭✭Steve_o


    Oriel wrote:
    Phone in advance and make sure there is somebody there to talk to.
    All you are looking is to be unbarred, not an apology.

    Agreed....why apologise if the bouncer was bein a d**khead, there's no excuse for ignorance!....also some places contract out the bouncers from security companies so the manager might ask you to contact the security company if thats the way they do it!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,331 ✭✭✭✭bronte


    Heya Mairt, yup ozone it was!
    Interesting you thought it was fairly rough, I've seen a bit of that from living there alright.
    Saw quite a bit of fighting at the festival this year.
    I used to work as bar staff there.
    As for sloppy seconds, i'm actually a girl ..good to hear you approve of the leixlip lasses :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭Jigsaw


    Hey there,

    Thought I'd just post back here to let y'all know how out things worked out.

    So I went to the bar in question last night. Mates of mine were already in and they were also in the night I was barred so they knew the bouncers in question. They confirmed to me that they were all different bouncers last night. So I wandered over and headed up to the bar and ordered a pint from one of the bar men who know me the best there. He noted that I hadn't been around recently and I told him why. He instantly removed my bar and said that the bouncers' behaviour had been entirely unacceptable and that this was not the first time it had happened either. He advised me to make a formal complaint to the manager, which I did earlier today. He apologised to me for the fact that I had been treated unjustly and said that he would speak to the bouncer in question.

    So I can walk in now quite freely and have not had to apologise (not that there was anything to apologise for). Glad I stuck to my principles :D


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