Hi everyone! It's been a while! The sucky customers have not stopped for me, but I just have not had time to sit down and write about them! Very busy with my own business and everything at the minute. So here goes.
It's the Easter break in the UK at the minute, and the weather has been great. The pub has been very, very busy because of this and it hasn't been fun. I was in the middle of working the lunch rush, taking meals out to customers. It was hot, it was very busy and the staff were starting to get stressed. Suddenly, the kitchen lights started to flicker.
Kitchen Co-worker: Now what?
And just like that, the power went out. EVERYTHING went, even the emergency lighting. The kitchen was so dark I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. The extraction fans went out, so the temperature shot up immediately. Boss Lady burst into the kitchen. She ran over and shut off the gas using a torch light on her phone.
Boss: Right, everyone out the kitchen! This is too dangerous!
We all evacuated the kitchen and stood at the end of the bar. The bar was also in absolute darkness. Boss lady came over.
Boss: How many meals did we have on?
Kitchen: I don't know, there were loads! I'd say about twenty meals. Don't worry, I pulled everything out the grills and fryers before we left.
Boss: We're going to have to go table to table and refund all these people if the power doesn't come back on right away.
Me: We should ring the power company.
The phones were dead as well. We managed to use one of our own and called them. They said there had been a surge and it would be out for an HOUR.
So Boss, myself, a co-worker and I went to each table, telling them they would have to get a refund. Oh my. Can you imagine the reactions??
SC: But I've been waiting for 15 minutes already! And now you're telling me I can't eat?
SC2: My children are hungry!
SC3: Where else can we go? Can you call another pub and make a reservation for us???
SC4: I don't understand why the power being out affects the kitchen! Isn't everything powered by gas???
Me: Certain things are but without the power the gas has been shut off.
SC4: What does that mean?
Me: Look, we just don't have any power. We can't cook.
I was starting to lose patience. Not ONE customer was understanding. And it's not like they were unaware there was no power. The pub was in darkness!
SC5: I don't want a refund! I want my meal! When will the power be back?
Me: Not for at least an hour.
SC5: I can't wait that long! I have places to be!
Me: Then I will get you a refund.
SC5: I told you! I don't want a refund!
Me: *snapping* WHAT do you want then??
SC5: Fine. Just give me my money back.
The customers were gradually leaving the pub. Rather than completely evacuating the pub right away, Boss lady decided to stay open and let people drink. The cooler and fridges were still fine, so as long as people had the exact change, they could get a drink. She was refunding people using money from the safe, as she was unable to open the registers.
Pretty much every customer left except the regular alcoholics. I went on the bar and stood with my co-workers.
SC: Can I still get a beer?
Me: If you have the right change, yes.
SC: Ok. I'll have one.
Me: Remember, I need the exact amount of money. I can't take notes.
SC: OK.
He handed me a £20 note.
Me: What did I just say?
SC: You mean you can't change it? Well, I guess it's free then.
Me: No. I guess you're not getting a beer then.
SC: Fiiiinnneee! *hands me correct change*
Customers still kept entering the pub. I greeted them as they entered.
Me: Hi there. There has been a powercut-
SC: Oh we know! The whole street is down!
Me: Yes, so we can only serve drink at the moment, and only if you have change, just so you know.
SC: WHAT??? WE'RE LEAVING!!
More customers arrived.
Me: Hi there. Just so you know, there has been a powercut-
SC: Oh that's fine. We've only come in for lunch.
Me: We cannot serve food without power.
SC: Why not???
I gave up on greeting customers and let Boss lady do it. I went and sat out the back with the kitchen co-workers. Boss lady stormed out the back and screamed.
Boss: These fucking morons! Why can't they understand that in order to cook food, you need electricity! Argh!!!
It went around in circles like that for an hour. The power came back on ten minutes before the end of my shift, and like locusts, the customers swarmed back inside and up to the bar. I ran out the doors when my shift ended.
It's the Easter break in the UK at the minute, and the weather has been great. The pub has been very, very busy because of this and it hasn't been fun. I was in the middle of working the lunch rush, taking meals out to customers. It was hot, it was very busy and the staff were starting to get stressed. Suddenly, the kitchen lights started to flicker.
Kitchen Co-worker: Now what?
And just like that, the power went out. EVERYTHING went, even the emergency lighting. The kitchen was so dark I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. The extraction fans went out, so the temperature shot up immediately. Boss Lady burst into the kitchen. She ran over and shut off the gas using a torch light on her phone.
Boss: Right, everyone out the kitchen! This is too dangerous!
We all evacuated the kitchen and stood at the end of the bar. The bar was also in absolute darkness. Boss lady came over.
Boss: How many meals did we have on?
Kitchen: I don't know, there were loads! I'd say about twenty meals. Don't worry, I pulled everything out the grills and fryers before we left.
Boss: We're going to have to go table to table and refund all these people if the power doesn't come back on right away.
Me: We should ring the power company.
The phones were dead as well. We managed to use one of our own and called them. They said there had been a surge and it would be out for an HOUR.
So Boss, myself, a co-worker and I went to each table, telling them they would have to get a refund. Oh my. Can you imagine the reactions??
SC: But I've been waiting for 15 minutes already! And now you're telling me I can't eat?
SC2: My children are hungry!
SC3: Where else can we go? Can you call another pub and make a reservation for us???
SC4: I don't understand why the power being out affects the kitchen! Isn't everything powered by gas???
Me: Certain things are but without the power the gas has been shut off.
SC4: What does that mean?
Me: Look, we just don't have any power. We can't cook.
I was starting to lose patience. Not ONE customer was understanding. And it's not like they were unaware there was no power. The pub was in darkness!
SC5: I don't want a refund! I want my meal! When will the power be back?
Me: Not for at least an hour.
SC5: I can't wait that long! I have places to be!
Me: Then I will get you a refund.
SC5: I told you! I don't want a refund!
Me: *snapping* WHAT do you want then??
SC5: Fine. Just give me my money back.
The customers were gradually leaving the pub. Rather than completely evacuating the pub right away, Boss lady decided to stay open and let people drink. The cooler and fridges were still fine, so as long as people had the exact change, they could get a drink. She was refunding people using money from the safe, as she was unable to open the registers.
Pretty much every customer left except the regular alcoholics. I went on the bar and stood with my co-workers.
SC: Can I still get a beer?
Me: If you have the right change, yes.
SC: Ok. I'll have one.
Me: Remember, I need the exact amount of money. I can't take notes.
SC: OK.
He handed me a £20 note.
Me: What did I just say?
SC: You mean you can't change it? Well, I guess it's free then.
Me: No. I guess you're not getting a beer then.
SC: Fiiiinnneee! *hands me correct change*
Customers still kept entering the pub. I greeted them as they entered.
Me: Hi there. There has been a powercut-
SC: Oh we know! The whole street is down!
Me: Yes, so we can only serve drink at the moment, and only if you have change, just so you know.
SC: WHAT??? WE'RE LEAVING!!
More customers arrived.
Me: Hi there. Just so you know, there has been a powercut-
SC: Oh that's fine. We've only come in for lunch.
Me: We cannot serve food without power.
SC: Why not???
I gave up on greeting customers and let Boss lady do it. I went and sat out the back with the kitchen co-workers. Boss lady stormed out the back and screamed.
Boss: These fucking morons! Why can't they understand that in order to cook food, you need electricity! Argh!!!
It went around in circles like that for an hour. The power came back on ten minutes before the end of my shift, and like locusts, the customers swarmed back inside and up to the bar. I ran out the doors when my shift ended.
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