Cyclone Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I think if someone in a restaurant offered me water they meant tap water unless otherwise specified! I'd assume the opposite and specify tap water if that's what I wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortcrust Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I thought that too, but turns out I'm wrong. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/aug/30/consumeraffairs.activists Although perhaps the new government is sticking up for consumers: http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.736 I think the info in the first link may be out of date as the law was changed in 2010 (I think!!). However, regardless of the legal position, it makes very poor business sense to charge for tap water. I usually tip at least 10% of the bill, but I wouldn't tip a penny if I was charged for tap water. And I wouldn't go back! Happily, most of the places I've been too recently have bought a free jug of water to the table soon after arrival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy lady Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 i don't see the problem in them bringing you the water thats on the menu if you didn't specify tap water. I would have assumed if they were offering me drinks from the drinks menu they would have asked if I wanted to see the menu. I wasn't asked if I wanted a J20 or a Coke. I was asked if I would like some water. I think it was sharp practice, but they gained nothing from it as I cut the tip. It also left a bad impression that may cloud my opinion about booking there in future. Our bill for 4 diners was over £140 plus drinks. That is a lot of business to jeopardise for a £4 bottle of water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Smith Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I would have assumed if they were offering me drinks from the drinks menu they would have asked if I wanted to see the menu. I wasn't asked if I wanted a J20 or a Coke. I was asked if I would like some water. I think it was sharp practice, but they gained nothing from it as I cut the tip. It also left a bad impression that may cloud my opinion about booking there in future. Our bill for 4 diners was over £140 plus drinks. That is a lot of business to jeopardise for a £4 bottle of water. Totally agree! The waiter must had specified on the kind of water he's offering. It is his job to offer and when there are several opportunities he has to ask the customer which one to choose (no matter how prestigious and expensive the restaurant is). Moreover, he had broken the seal of the bottle before he brought it to you, which is not right at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyLover Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Tap water is and should still be chargable as a service as long as its with ice and lemon if required, the business has to wash the glass,pay staff to serve it, supply the glass and pay the water rates! why should it be free? Yes, that would be true if you had simply just walked in and asked JUST for water, but I think it should be free if you are spending lots of cash on other food and drinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emma royd Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Tap water is and should still be chargable as a service as long as its with ice and lemon if required, the business has to wash the glass,pay staff to serve it, supply the glass and pay the water rates! why should it be free? I suspect the sort of restaurant that charges for tap water also charges for toilet paper and soap should you need to use them. Someone has to buy them and clean the toilets as well as paying for the water you use. Such establishments are best avoided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 On Saturday evening we were dining at a fairly expensive restaurant.The answer lies in these two words, which appear to have been overlooked by many posters. It would be interesting to know which restaurant, foxy lady. E.g., would you really expect to be served tap water by default at a michelin star-aspiring restaurant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojothecool Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 What a rip- off! If I were offered water by the waiter, I would expect it to be a jug of tap water. If I asked for water (even if I didn't specify) I would expect bottled water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oddgitt Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I would have assumed if they were offering me drinks from the drinks menu they would have asked if I wanted to see the menu. I wasn't asked if I wanted a J20 or a Coke. I was asked if I would like some water. I think it was sharp practice, but they gained nothing from it as I cut the tip. It also left a bad impression that may cloud my opinion about booking there in future. Our bill for 4 diners was over £140 plus drinks. That is a lot of business to jeopardise for a £4 bottle of water. Perhaps. But cutting the tip doesn't really do much. The restaurant still turned over £4 and earnt profit on that (probably a fair percentage actually). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortcrust Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Perhaps. But cutting the tip doesn't really do much. The restaurant still turned over £4 and earnt profit on that (probably a fair percentage actually). But they lost out on what would presumably have been a tip of around £14. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.