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Is a pub legally required ....
Is a pub legally required to have a cash register with a screen visible to the customer? Buying a round of drinks yesterday (an extremely rare occurrence) in a pub I'd never been to before, I noticed that there was nothing to show the prices as the server tapped in the details; the till was on the counter in front of me, with the server behind it.
The server then announced the total, but didn't hand me any form of detailed bill, or even just a grand total.
Not only that, but I couldn't see any price list visible from the serving area of the bar. However, I've been told on another forum that having the prices in a menu is sufficient, even though there were no menus on the bar at that time.
Finally, how do I find the Trading Standards body responsible for an area? I found about four possibilities, but none had any means of inputting complaints.
The server then announced the total, but didn't hand me any form of detailed bill, or even just a grand total.
Not only that, but I couldn't see any price list visible from the serving area of the bar. However, I've been told on another forum that having the prices in a menu is sufficient, even though there were no menus on the bar at that time.
Finally, how do I find the Trading Standards body responsible for an area? I found about four possibilities, but none had any means of inputting complaints.
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http://howtorunapub.co.uk/pub-price-lists/
agreed
If a customer wanted a receipt for entertaining, it simply stated meals and the amount, and drinks and the amount.
Which way do the CCTVs point?
Could you not have just asked?
Either verbally to confirm the prices or asked for a physical copy of a price-list, or even your receipt.. ?
I must admit I've been in to many pubs and never seen such a document (although I don't dispute the legality of what you're saying).
I think a lot of places just turn a blind eye to it.
Of course, you usually get wine lists and full menus if they serve food, but I've never seen a list pinned up itemising all of the drinks sold and their prices.
In Scotland it is legally required.
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Legal/Licensing-law/Legal-checklist-Pub-notices-on-display
The reaction sounds over the top unless there is more to this
It's utterly ridiculous.
OP, just ask for a receipt next time.
I work in a pub, if any customer asks for a receipt, I can print one for them. It's not an automatic thing, imagine if we automatically printed a receipt for every customer who just comes in for a pint?!
I can't see how anyone would actually care, being honest..
I wouldn't expect a receipt with a round of drinks, but I think they have to display a tariff by the bar area .
Some do - they give it back with your change in that annoying little tray.
As you drink more - you forget to check things
I had three thirsty relatives outside, and it was 10 minutes before I suddenly thought : hang on, isn't £16:35 a bit pricey for two and a half pints and a glass of wine? That's when it occurred to me that I hadn't seen either the prices rung up, or the total.
The server could have told me anything, true or not. Hence why I feel it's appropriate to approach trading standards. I suspect these may be offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Large glasses of wine are often around the £5 mark. Pints around the £3 to £3.50 depending on the pint, and so, half pint £1.50 to £2. Prices vary from pub to pub and place to place around the country.
You should've either looked for a price list, asked at the bar when you were there, queried the price when you were at the bar and/or asked for a receipt when you are at the bar.
To still be worrying about this and going getting on your high horse and going all guns blazing wanting to go to Trading Standards is ridiculously OTT.
If you're really still bothered about it, before you go all guns blazing, why not go back to the pub and ask what the price is of drinks and see if there's a price list around?
In my experience the list is usually "clearly on display" in a remote corner of the bar, behind the coffee machine or hasn't been updated in months.
There are indeed many things I should have done, but the fact is that I didn't. So that's the point I have to start at.
In which case I imagine they're in breach of the Regs. I'm not in a position to know whether they have, so I'll leave it to a body who should know.
Where abouts are you? A large glass of house wine is £6 in my local and pints about £3 odd. So that's total doesn't seem off to me, certainly not enough to be thinking of trading standards!