Do They Want The Business?

[Caran]

I organise a monthly lunch club for our U3A. I have to have the next venue all organised and typed up to present at our current lunch club.
Last Thursday I went to a pub we have used many times in the past. I took a couple of the menus with me that we have had there in the past. Booked the date, chef wasn't interested in menus, fiddled with his phone all the time, said he would be in touch. I told him I needed menus by today at the very latest.
I phoned last night and left a message on the answerphone. I rang this morning, told they were very busy and would get back to me later. I phoned at 4.00 and was told he was very busy again. I finally rang at 9.00, still nothing so I told them to cancel the booking. This was for about 40 people, who all buy drinks as well as food. What is wrong with some people.
I should have known better, I had problems about two years ago with this venue but did eventually get a menu.
So tomorrow I have to try and find a venue and get a menu and get it all typed for for our lunch club on Wednesday.
Sometimes I wonder if it is worth the aggro!

[Cloverjo]

Is it a type of pub where they buy food on the day and then decide what to cook with it?
If not, and they have a standard menu, I can't understand why they wouldn't help you.
We used to hold meetings in a local pub. We all bought drinks, and some had meals, but one day they told us we couldn't hold our meeting as we were taking up a table that customers might want to use. We were customers! And the place was always almost empty. It's closed down now.

[Caran]

Cloverjo it's a well established restaurant where they buy from local suppliers.
It has a good reputation for superb food. I just do not understand the attitude of the chef who couldn't be bothered.
The staff I spoke to seemed quite embarrassed about it.

[mikey4444]

He obviously was making so much money, that he didn't need yours Caran !

Send him a letter, telling him why you won't be using his place again !

There are plenty of Pubs and most of them would be only too glad of business, in this time of Pub closures.

[EDDIE51]

I would not have bothered with a menu just made the booking. If the pub is well known , has been used many times in the past and has a good reputation the members will be well aware of the type of food it offers.
Any who are not sure can phone up the pub and ask what is on.

[Hopkirk]

In my experience most chefs are bordering insane.

[Caran]

EDDIE51, it doesn't work like that. With 40+ members we have to pre-order.
That's why I need a menu. I have everyone's name listed, on a spreadsheet with all the choices on, they tick what food they want. I produce place cards with names and food choices on. I phone the pub a few days before the event and tell them how many, breakdown of choices and how many tables of whatever number I need.

[EDDIE51]

^ OK I see the problem, very few places can accept a booking for a party that large. For most places it would fill their entire seating capacity so you would need to be taking over the entire building. I can see the chefs point he would have to effectively close the place to anyone apart from your booking.