Pub owner dishes out brutal response to customer who claims she is ‘taking the mickey’ with prices – but are they right?
A RESTAURANT owner has dished out a brutal comeback after a punter slammed their popular pub over prices.
The disgruntled pubgoer had claimed that The Boast Restaurant and Bar in Rugby, Warwickshire, was “taking the mickey” with its prices.
Leaving a review after their visit in the summer, the customer said: “The Boat is conveniently located on one of our favourite cycle routes and over the years we have stopped for a pint many times. Inflation has certainly moved in big time recently.
“Two pints of cider, a bag of scratching, a small bag of nuts cost nearly £16, up about £4 from last month.
“Sad, but we will no longer be using this pub.”
However, owner Susan was quick to fire back, saying: “I am stunned at this review. Not so much you complaining of price increases but your inference that we are doing this on purpose and are ‘taking the mickey’.
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“We do not want to put our prices up, we are not rubbing our hands together in glee at the amount of profit we are making and sitting on piles of cash as we do so.
“We, like everyone else, are undergoing huge price hikes across the board and our profit margins are shrinking in an attempt to keep our business going.”
Susan went on to slam the reviewer and asked if they had the same attitude to larger businesses raising prices to stay afloat.
She said: “Would you go online and give one-star damaging reviews to the big giants like supermarkets, DIY stores or utility companies? my guess would be no but you think it is absolutely fine to go online and slate a small, hardworking family business as they struggle to keep up with the current economic crisis.”
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The enraged owner then suggested that, next time, the customer bring their own bottle of water and bag of crisps to sit on the grass and eat rather than visiting the pub again.
The fiery response concluded: “In future please keep your insinuations to yourself and only leave reviews on the standard of service and quality of the goods you received not on the state of the economy as believe it or not that is not our fault.
“Good luck in the future cycling on by and seeing many, many others enjoying our hard-earned hospitality, sitting by the canal.”
Many other commenters have left highly positive reviews of the pub.
One wrote: “Had a lovely meal at lunchtime, price reasonable, staff very friendly and helpful, lovely and clean and beautiful outdoor area.”
Another, left a glowing review, saying: “Our favourite local pub, food is exceptional and the staff are lovely. We visit casually for a drink or dinner but also held our wedding reception in the new room they added during lockdown.
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“Josh, Sue and the whole team made our day so special with a relaxed setting, wonderful food and such personal attention to little details for us. Thank you to the whole team for our perfect day but also just being a lovely place to visit all the time.”
Meanwhile, a third said that it was so good that even their “80-year-old grumpy grandad had an amazing time”.