General Discussion
Water - 50 pence a glass
A friend of mine went to Bow Windows yesterday.
When she asked for a glass of water with her soup she was told it would be 50 pence for tap water and 80 pence for bottled water. She said she needed the water to take some medication and the waitress grudgingly brought her a small amount in the bottom of the glass (free).
Another pair of customers were sufficiently outraged to walk out and eat elsewhere.
The situation remains unclear as to whether Bow Windows would charge for a glass of sea water.
I would never go in there. It could be such a nice place to eat with a prime position too but their 'tacky' chalk boards written so badly says it all for me. Isn't it awful when you have to almost apologise for being a customer, making work for them yet paying their wages.
Embarking on a flight of fancy, it occurred to me to wonder whether it would be stealing if one sneaked into the toilet and drank from the taps in a restaurant where they charge for water. Of course, such behaviour could be used to justify the installation of CCTV "for our protection" and to ensure that offenders were identified and prosecuted.
Not so.
Supply of Goods & Services Act
When you order a meal in a restaurant you're agreeing to pay for the food, drink and service. It's a contract for work and materials to which the Supply of Goods & Services Act applies.
While a restaurant can't force you to buy bottled mineral water, it can legitimately charge you for providing tap water, as mean as it might sound. The provision of any water includes an element of service, such as pouring the water into a jug and/or glass and cleaning the jug and/or glass.
(An extract from this link) :-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/your_rights/food.shtml
Thanks for that information Don.
I'm surprised they don't charge for the water they have outside for dogs.
How mean. I do use the place when I want to sit outside. (wont any more) They charge 20p more than anywhere else for a pot of tea etc.
The owners also own a B&B in Starcross that is also dark and dingy
It's a horrible dive with oer-priced, awful food. Just the kind of place that brings the town down. The owners should be utterly ashamed. Their guesthouse has some pretty dreadful reviews on the internet so I guess they just don't have any standards.
The owners should travel abroad a little to learn how to treat customers. Here in Canada the first thing they do when you sit at a table is pour you a glass of iced water then ask if there is anything else they can get you to drink and if you have coffee they will always be watching to refill your cup whenever needed and all at no extra cost.
To be fair to other establishments hereabouts and elsewhere in UK, this practice of charging for water is highly unusual.
A further note on Bow Windows and as a further indication of the esteem in which they hold their customers:
They do have a bowl of water on the pavement outside - for thirsty dogs.
