Customer Service

After meeting the Chairman of the CAMRA Review Group yesterday we needed a little refreshment, so nipped into the Bank (Nicolsons) for some beer. I chose unwisely, but that was the triumph of hope over experience, so my own fault. I've never found a Rudgate beer yet that I like, though it may well be that Rudgate beers just don't agree with me in some way. None of this is the point though, as I want to mention customer service.

The pub was almost empty, but the bar staff were exemplary. "Our" young barmaid in particular was cheerful and attentive, with samples happily offered (I still bought that blasted Rudgate though) and banter exchanged. She chatted to us old fogies and made us feel wanted in the pub. Unbidden, when she heard us discussing Stella Black which was available, she darted over with a taster and mentioned it was on offer. I remarked on her cheerfulness and she replied simply "This is my job, I might as well enjoy it!" Refreshing.

Now the real reason I mention her, is that this isn't the first time this lass has treated this customer so well. Earlier in December she was just as attentive and professional when I was there with a different mate and she was the same with all her customers both then and yesterday. Well done I'd say and a pleasure to encounter customer service at its best.

I thought the Stella Black to be not that bad actually, but it was only a taster.

You All Right There?

I approached the bar of the pub where I'd gone for a quiet drink with E after taking her to see her bereaved aunt. In a piece of deja vu, the barmaid asked me an identical question to the one I'd been asked at the same bar, by a different barmaid, exactly a week ago. The question was "You all right there?". Having responded to the same question last time by assuming my general well being was not being enquired about, but the question could be translated as saying in a roundabout way, "What would you like?" I decided to answer her question by having a little gentle fun with her. "Not so bad really" quoth I. She was nonplussed and there was an uneasy standoff for a brief second until I added (with a smile) "But I'd be even better with a pint and a half of bitter".

She still looked slightly puzzled. I know of course that an old git like me trying to have a joke with most young women is a nil sum game, but I reflected that one barmaid saying this rather odd question to a customer was, well odd; and two saying it odder. I suppose one copied the other.

What's wrong with "What would you like?" or "What can I get you?"

The Rake

I am in London, briefly. I came down for a social meeting with Eileen's colleagues and a trip to see "As You Like It" at the Globe Theatre. Despite reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed that, aided and abetted by the fact it was a lovely night, which helps in an open air theatre. Being at the front in the top gallery, some of the best seats, helped too.

At the interval which was short - they ought to get Shakespeare to sort that out - he certainly knows how to drag things out - I noticed with horror that the only beer on sale is canned Fosters. WTF? I stuck to water.

We walked home through Southwark and popped into a quiet Rake. Quiet in number terms, though not in noise, provided by a very drunk young American, whose political views would have earned him a smack in the mouth in some places I know, and to be fair, a round of applause in others. I watched the two women behind the bar. They served me civilly, but with no customer interaction other than telling me the price. They seemed a little cheerier a few minutes later at 10.40, when, without any call of "Time", the fridge lights were turned off, the lights on the fonts the same and they emerged for a sit down. Now I have never found the Rake staff anything other than just indifferent. Not good, not bad, just apathetic, though others have written about worse experiences. With the beer range (and prices) they have, wouldn't it be nice if they were full of enthusiasm and cheer? It'd make the experience a lot better for both sides of the bar.

So what did I have? Dark Star Sussex Extra Stout which was decent, with roast malt dominating, though there was little by way of hop bitterness. Needs some work I'd say. It was in average condition. Like the service, not good, not bad.

An interesting pumpclip.