Not so welcome

[Peteaud]

Thats a frankly jaw-dropping attitude. I've never come across it, but if I did, I would be having words there and then.

Do you think it was purely because you were in cycling garb? I mean, if this was a fancy up-market resturant, and it was 7.30 in the evening, then I may - just may - be inclined to understand. But if its just your run-of-the-mill 'local' boozer, either chain or solo, and they are exhibitng that kind of behaviour, I would kindly enquire as to why they hoped I wasn't planning on eating, and unless the answer was "Well Im awfully sorry, it looks like you may want a meal because you've obviously been doing exercise and Im sure you're hungy, but the kitchen has actually just closed/is broken/the chef has ran off to Tiawana with the barmaid", I wouldn't feel at all bad about speaking my mind in the slightest. Especially if it's a place Im not likely to frequent. Nuts to the English way of politeness and not complaining.

Luckily, my usual stop offs are more than accomodating, and the worst I have to put up with is sarcastic wolf whistles and jibes about being fueled by alcohol or whatever.

I dont really wear "cycling garb" as i had 3/4 baggy shorts and a red Gil jacket on and my Northwest cycle shoes, so i could have passed for a rambler i suppose, although the bike might have been a give away (not sure if she had seen us pull up).

Its a freehouse, and to be honest i didnt really realise what she had said until after when we were chatting outside.

If it was a posh restaurant then i can see her point (just) but its just a boozer on a main road.

We do have a "posh" place near here and i am going to now go in in full cycling gear to see their reation.

 

[Archie_tect]

Second one is Parkhead Station on the moors above Stanhope in the Wear Valley. Lovely people run it and it's incredibly cycle friendly place (as you would hope it to be, seeings as its on the C2C route!)

Should have been up at Parkhead today but didn't have time. Best mug of tea and bacon buttie... but it may have been the anticipation!

 

[ColinJ]

As I have mentioned on various forum rides - I led one such ride to an establishment which made us feel pretty unwelcome last year.

I can forgive being told to shift the bikes because they were said to be in the way. I don't think that they were, but I suppose it might have made wheelchair access a bit more difficult. I could put up with the fairly high prices. No, what did it for me were the laminated notices on every picnic table outside which pretty much said this ...

We are running a business here and we are doing it to make money. We don't give stuff away, we sell it! So, don't waste our time or yours asking for water and don't try filling bottles from the taps in the toilet areas either. Bottled water is for sale from the fridges, so if you want water you know where to buy it. Thank you - The Management!

How to make friends and influence people, eh?

So, instead of the glowing tribute about what a lovely place it was, how you really must call in there if you are in the area, I'll take a ride over there again one day and so on ... I'll simple say this - AVOID!

(Look up Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Farm if you must, but I wouldn't bother!)

PS And if you find this post through Google Alerts, mister businessman (and you really should if you are running your business properly!) then this is the price you pay for treating your customers that way! I could have sent 50 new customers to you but now I warn them off.

And to think that you could have had a recommendation like this:

If you are ever cycling or walking in the Ribble Valley and want to call in at a cafe, I can recommend Country Kitchen in Waddington. The friendly staff have always made us feel welcome. They fill our drinks bottles for us before we leave - free of charge (*gasp*). They have in the past volunteered to come out and take our group photos for us (before potsy discovered a convenient wall on which to place his camera). We arrived late once after a gruelling forum ride when it was only 10 or 15 minutes before closing time - the staff stayed on and kept the cafe open an extra 30 minutes just for us!

 

[dandare]

I don't think your experience is that unusual. The service in this country seems to be really bad. Not just pubs but shops, cafes, in fact anywhere that the general public have the nerve to want to spend some money in.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

will do.

Nothing so far

I'm going to a pub down your way tomorrow, I'll tell everyone to keep away...?

 

[Peteaud]

I'm going to a pub down your way tomorrow, I'll tell everyone to keep away...?

What one?

 

[Andy_R]

Should have been up at Parkhead today but didn't have time. Best mug of tea and bacon buttie... but it may have been the anticipation!

I like to pedal up to there from Durham. When I get to Hownsgill viaduct, I start to salivate at the thought of Sticky buns and Tea.....they never fail to live up to anticipation.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

What one?

Not sure yet, up to the mother. Somewhere in and around the South Petherton area.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

A year or two ago, I went to a small tea room in Tarbert (Arrochar and Tarbert) at the road junction on the A82 (the place with the hotel et al).

I went in, but didn't have anywhere to lock my bike (probably not a problem anyway, but it is near to a busy road and all), so I brought it in with me and propped it against the wall, and the staff didn't even bat an eyelid That said, the place was full of so many things that they possibly didn't notice!

I can't remember the name of the place, sorry, but it was just round the corner from the hotel on the Arrochar Road.