Patrick's, Beckenham

DON"T GO UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF! Went to Patrick's on Sunday to watch the football with a friend, have been to the place several times on a Saturday night for a few drinks before heading on further but on Sunday I wasn't drinking as I had been out the night before. I've noticed before that Patrick's can be on the expensive side but never had I expected 6.00 for an orange and a soda water!! When I challenged the bar lady (thinking that surely she had made a mistake) she confirmed that in fact that was the correct price! I then had two others say they had only paid 6.50 for two pints of Fosters and that was alcohol! I was totally dumbfounded as to how this could be so decided to ask the landlord who was perched at the end of the Bar. I politely asked Patrick the Manager why he was charging so much for water and orange his reply was "if you want a free drink go home and have one", "this bar doesn't run itself you know!" I replied "do I look like I want a free drink after paying 6.00 for two soft ones?" and asked him why he was being so rude when I was simply asking a question to which he replied "I'm telling you if you don't like it leave"! I didn't want to make a scene and embarrass myself and he probably would have got me chucked out and people would have assumed I was drunk! I wish! At least it would have cost me less! On talking to the other people in there I learnt that in fact Patrick decides what he charges people, regulars get a pint for 3.00 others have to pay 3.50, he also has a bar in Crystal Palace that's losing money. It's now apparent that's may be why he has such a rude and ignorant mannerism. about him. I myself come from a big Irish family, Patrick's should be representing the warmth and friendly manner of the Irish renowned the world over but unfortunately Patrick the Manager has made a mockery of this. Such a shame because I and several other people I know will not venturing into Patricks anymore out of sheer principal. It will be O'Neills now because although it can be a bit young, it has better music, cheaper drinks and if your with the right people that's all you ever need.

10 May 2010 22:00

The Bridge Bar, Beckenham

DO NOT GO!! Have been to the Bridge Bar a handful of times, mainly because there is nothing else around that has an older crowd. Last night was the last time, this place has hit rock bottom (although it wasn't far from it in the first place) and I will never return. On entering we asked the door men was it busy in there the reply was it will get busier. We got to the front desk to be greeted by dumb and dumber, one taking money the other taking coats, clearly this easy public service job is to hard for them because they couldn't manage that very well. The young foetus of a boy who took the money 4 x 5.00, had such a bad attitude that at that point we even consider turning back around but unfortunetly didn't. On entering the place it was absolutely freezing cold, with everyone wearing there coats still and a handful of people in there and no atmosphere at all, After getting drinks I went back out to the reception area to ask them if they had heating on as it was freezing, foetus replyed "it's because there's not alot of people in there but I will put it on in a while", I actually couldn't believe my ears and thought he was joking!! I asked for the manager he said he was the manager. We thought we would give it the benefit of the doubt for an hour but it became hard to enjoy yourself with crap music, chattering teeth and Del Trotter trying to make a move on you! On leaving we approached the reception area again, Foetus was still there with the mute cloakroom assistant who looked like Wanetta Slob and we voiced our disappointment at paying a total of 20.00 for 1 hour to be freezing cold, he said well go then if you don't like it. My sister asked for the manager who appeared from a back door, 'but I thought you were the manager" I asked the foetus who replied " i never said that!!!" The Manager, but who knows if he was a man called Jason Orriss gave us a card when we said we wanted to make a complaint, which I have done, If this review can stop just one person wasting there money it will be worth it!!

6 Mar 2010 15:43