You want a coke? Get out

gmisk

https://m.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/pub-owner-sets-down-marker-after-refusing-to-serve-glass-of-coke-to-customer/2054883434.html

Bit of a random story. I would have thought the markup on a pint of coke would be decent....

Ubbquittious

In a year or so when the recesh hits you'll see him in another article banging on about how it's up to everyone to preserve Belfast's pub heritage

Strumms

What do people do who are ..

1) driving…

2) on medication, treatment or enduring a medical condition not compatible with alcohol consumption…

3) have an early start and therefore contractual limits re: alcoholic consumption… 11 hours in one of my cases it stipulated..

4) are popping in for a work type meeting / get together ?

there is an Irish pub in Paris down by the Seine and one of the managers used to start that craic… the fûck he gets his panties in a bunch for.. a mystery considering his employer is a multimillionaire, his employer owns about 9 pubs… yet here is a little snot fungus on 13.50 an hour, worried about people not drinking alcohol….

this tulip however should be boycotted.

enricoh

Often see lads in the local cafe hogging a table with a pot of tea n the laptop out. People head off if no tables available, if I owned the cafe I'd be running them after say 20 minutes.

The barmen in my local got rid of the Guinness 00 tapas it was so slow to pull a pint.

He seems to reckon he'll get by, his business so fair enough imo.

rolling boh

The guy must only want a conveyor belt of fast drinkers I suppose that's his right as the owner .I can see the point in people hogging seats especially at the bar and making a pint last for a whole match or something which I have seen .

buried

Somebody comes into your business and wants to purchase a product that you currently have in stock and you tell them to f**k off? This Brittle guy is a genius.

elperello

At least we know the cut of his jib now.

Easy to swerve his establishment.

Plenty more pubs in Belfast.

FunLover18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120011752#Comment_120011752

I'm sure if they felt it was affecting their business they would run them out but they don't so it mustn't be. Similarly this twat is bragging about selling hundreds of pints while complaining about someone wanting a coke, if he's selling so many pints, one coke isn't going to put him out of business.

Loafing Oaf

Wouldn't be the first pub to ban cokeheads

https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/irish-pub-video-cocaine-drugs-7671593

I see sheep

He's a tosser

20Wheel

He's a dick, and I'd avoid giving my money to any bar that pulls that nonsense.

But at the same time, offer and acceptance is the name of the game. Long as he's not discriminating on any of the protected grounds then I respect his right to not accept my business. He doesn't owe me service. Ill simply go to his competitor.

His game, his rules, if he has the business to be able to do it, good for him.

Covidhaveago

Yer man’s an attention seeker, always pulling stunts to get his name and his business in the news.

Larbre34

Yeah, funny man.

Put a letter into the County Court for Belfast to have on file for the next time his liquor licence is up for review.

I suspect the review board won't be too impressed by his refusal to serve soft drinks on request, for all the reasons he obviously should.

Self-satisfied prick wouldn't be so amused then.

StupidLikeAFox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120012351#Comment_120012351

That was my first thought - a tesco value Michael OLeary

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120012702#Comment_120012702

Michael says "can of Coke, yes sir that'll be 3 euro". 🙂

Potential-Monke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120012719#Comment_120012719

And that's the 150ml can!

At least we know which pub to avoid. Not that I drink anymore. But if I did, and I ever found myself in Belfast again (I won't, don't like the place), then I'd show him by not going there. That'll teach him.

Best thing we can do is to actively ensure we never speak the pub or persons name again and stop giving him any airtime.

tayto lover

I always thought that there was more profit in soft drinks and less likelihood of rows breaking out.??

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013960#Comment_120013960

Maybe there is, on an individual basis. But most people don’t down 10 soft drinks in a row, and then think it’s a good idea to hit the Jägerbombs.

This guy came in and ordered a Coke, well a glass of Coke doesn’t really work for me”

That’s as far as I could read before I closed the page. What a wanker. Does work for you? Sure who’s asking you?

Imagine going to a Café..

“hi, I’d like a cappuccino”

”ah sorry that doesn’t really work for me today. How about an Americano?”

Trigger Happy

There was a pub in Sligo in the early 90s that would not serve tourists. The pub was tiny - hardly standing room in the place on a normal night. And the owner was sick of a gaggle of Americans coming in, pint of Guinness and 5 straws between them and bellowing about what a great irish experience this is.

I can kinda see both sides of the argument...but been a prick will never win out.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120011597#Comment_120011597

Nah, he'll have gone bust long before that as he is not terribly bright. If you have a limited number of tables you need to maximise the margin generated by each seat at the table, you do that by selling high margin products and that is not a pint of Guinness. It's along time ago since I say a set of pub accounts, but back in the day the margin on a soft drive was about three times a pint, but lsay twice for argument's sake. That means he needs to sell two pints for every coke, which means the seat is occupied longer. And while his mate buys that second pint, Johnny with the coke will have a second one and so the catch up continues.

Perhaps he is hobby pub owner that made his money else where and can afford to play these games or perhaps he is just dumb.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014076#Comment_120014076

I doubt it will go bust...seems to be hugely profitable, he has been running it for about 30 years. Always rammed when I have been in it tbh.

Tbh it is outrage marketing a bit like the white moose place in Dublin, it works.

SteM

He was interviewed last week and was boasting his pub was busy. Big deal it's the run up to Christmas, everywhere is busy. Wait until February hits, he'll be selling capri suns if it gets people through the doors.

bucketybuck

He clearly is a bit of a wanker, but on the other hand he is perfectly right, nothing worse than a bunch of tourists taking up a table for hours while sipping a half pint or soft drink.

And the margin argument is bogus because it ignores the quantity, Pedro coke drinker does not sip his soft drink in the same manner as a few lads out for pints.

Apparently his Guinness is supposed to be very good? So I see this as no different to a fancy restaurant being picky about their clientele, nobody bats an eyelid at some chef refusing to cook you beans on toast, no matter what the margin on toast is.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120011712#Comment_120011712

What do they do?

They don't go to the pub would be my suggestion.

Is there any other business that gets frequented by people who don't intend to purchase their core product?

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014204#Comment_120014204

Not really a fare comparison tbh. I doubt a fancy restaurant would have beans on toast on its menu....

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014204#Comment_120014204

Your analogy only works if the fancy restaurant has beans on toast on the menu though.

How would you feel if you went to seafood restaurant and they refused to sell you cod from the menu because they had plenty of others ordering more expensive monkfish?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014050#Comment_120014050

This made me laugh, I’ve seen this happen a couple of times in bars, once when some young wannabes asked for a cocktail list in a small old man’s bar, the barman told them to fuccckoff out’ve it.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014237#Comment_120014237

Remind me of the Frankie Boyle joke.

"Scottish people aren't all that friendly are they I once saw an English guy in Glasgow trying to order a pint of lager and lime and the barman went: We don't do cocktails."

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014204#Comment_120014204

Comparing a chef not preparing something off the menu (which they may not even have available) to someone who just wants to be a wanker is offensive to me personally.

I, for one, will happily prepare any dish (within reason) a guest requests. If it can be done it will be done.

walterking

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120011712#Comment_120011712

I can assure you that there are many many any other options for them to go to in the very close proximity.

and those who say its commercial suicide - try running a retail/hospitality business.

He has targeted a very specific market and therefore does not need to hold large levels of stock that sits there. It won't work for most, but it can work out if you are the only person doing it.

Next time I'm up there and want a decent pint and no frills, I'll be popping in.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014219#Comment_120014219

And this lad doesn't have coke on his menu, so whats the problem?

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014214#Comment_120014214

Core product? If he doesn't want sell coke then he shouldn't make it available for sale on his premises, it's really simple. McDonalds core product is fast food but they won't stop you from going in to buy an ice cream.

It's not that he doesn't want to sell coke, he obviously just wants to act like a prick to foster this 'quirky personality' people seem to attribute to him. He said it himself in the interview - 'It was a bit tongue in cheek'. Fair play to him, I hope his regulars stick by him in the hard times to come for his trade.

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014204#Comment_120014204

While your beans on toast analogy is way off the mark, because Coke IS on this bar’s menu, pretty much any restaurant I’ve ever eaten in seems to be perfectly happy to do customer requests - omit a particular ingredient, cook something a particular way, substitute one part of the dish for something else. I’ve been in restaurants where someone has only ordered a starter or a desert, with no issue.

Let’s not pretend that this guy’s action is in any way normal. It’s only news and we’re only discussing it here because it’s NOT normal.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014333#Comment_120014333

The guy who owns the place says it isn't on his "menu".

And yes I know he probably will still have it there for mixers, doesn't change the point.

People talking about restaurants responding to special requests are also missing the point made. I have no doubt that many restaurants respond to such requests, but the point made was that nobody would bat an eyelid if they heard about a restaurant that didn't.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014330#Comment_120014330

So if a fancy restaurant doesn't want to sell beans on toast then they shouldn't have bread available either?

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014328#Comment_120014328

He...literally does though....

Have you ever actually been in the bar?

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014380#Comment_120014380

He...literally...says he doesn't want to sell it. How is that not the only relevant point in this tangent.

Jarhead_Tendler

I presume the story did not happen and dear John is getting some nice publicity out of it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014432#Comment_120014432

Of course it didn’t, it serves the purpose of garnering publicity by allowing people who like being outraged to be outraged. Do you think any customer would give a toss about being told to piss off for ordering a coke?

walterking

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014076#Comment_120014076

If you checked his pub you would know its a famous whiskey pub.

28 measures (UK) in a bottle. He'd be "cheap" at £3 a shot. €84 gross on a bottle that costs him under €20.

That's way way better than the margin on a coke.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014369#Comment_120014369

<Snip>

Your comparing apples to oranges. An item completely unavailable due to supplies is not the same as abject refusal because you want to be in The Sun.

I’ve worked in many hotels and restaurants and have personally organised special requests when I can. From a guest who came for Afternoon Tea, despite not eating bread, to a young lady who needed food after the kitchen was closed for the night (just before I left) to take medication. I’ve even ran across the hotel to the bar to plate a dessert for a guest in the bar.

If it can be done any decent chef will do it. I’ve had arguments with my junior chefs about this before. Now if someone wanted a colcannon or bacon and cabbage, they’ll be told no, because it can’t be done. We don’t stock it or serve it and that’s the end of it.

However, I remember distinctly one of the team preparing a portion of mash potato for a baby bowl that was asked for, we had no mash, but we had potatoes and we had bowls. It wasn’t a difficult thing to put together.

Do you see how the difference? He had coke he just refused to serve it. If you have food or drinks a guest wants to pay for you’re a fool if you say no. People remember when they’ve been treated well, believe me, they come back. Treat them bad you’ll never see them again. People speak with their wallets, not always their words. Very scarcely will a guest complain much to the servers because they don’t want to “make a scene”. In my experience in fact, most complainers are just shite talkers.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014432#Comment_120014432

He was lined up to be on the Nolan radio show on BBC Radio Ulster, mentioned in the intro at 1 minute 25. Big new broke during the programme about the fuel payments in the North, so the item did not run. Could be on tomorrow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001g8ny

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014485#Comment_120014485

With all due respect, who gives a toss what you did or would do.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014495#Comment_120014495

The repeat customers care a great deal.

notAMember

Storm in tea-cup. ;)

One person coming in hogging a table and drinking one coke for hours is what they want to avoid. Sounds reasonable to me.

I'm fairly sure a group of regulars or a group ordering pints, with one person in that group who has a coke or a glass of water, would be absolutely fine.

Discretion.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014596#Comment_120014596

Discretion would be doing as you suggest and keeping his big mouth shut.

Tinter Box

It’s a small very well run pub. The artwork in it is a big draw for tourists. I can see his point to be honest. When I’m up I tend to go in early afternoon to get a table but it’s usually pretty busy. Last time I was in a (very hammered) girl ordered a pint of bud. He told her they didn’t do Bud and she ended up with a pint of some craft lager. She then dropped the full pint which smashed and went everywhere. In hindsight a Coke would have been a better option then!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120015202#Comment_120015202

You understand this guy has got a massive amount of publicity, for the price of a glass of coke.

Strumms

What if you went in at 1pm… on your todd with a newspaper … ordered a pint of Guinness…. To get a reply.. “sorry, this is technically lunch time, will you be ordering food with the Guinness ? No ? Erm ok, well I’ll need to ask you to leave as that space that you are taking up I can gain more revenue if I allow someone eating food to sit there…”

a lot of publicans anyway are absolute toerags…. One in Temple Bar is now charging 7.60 for a Heineken ffs. 10 pints = 76 euros.. 😏

so no surprise that some stoop to not letting people actually choose what the person would like from a selection of food / drinks.

what next, an airline refusing to sell a potential customer a seat… “ not until you select priority boarding and the meal deal “ Can’t just have the seat anymore.