My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful production of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Nice Opera House last week. The sets were impressive, and the acting and the singing truly excellent, exceeding our expectations. Thank you very much to the cast and crew of this brilliant production.

So you might wonder why the 2-star “less than average” review then? Unfortunately, the attitude and behaviour of the staff at Opéra de Nice left a really bad taste; and detracted from the experience - which would otherwise have been marvellous.

Upon arrival about 50 minutes before the start of the opera, we walked up to the first floor bar area, and bought a sandwich and a glass of wine each. There was seating for about 5-6 people on that floor - all taken already. We noticed empty sofas and armchairs on the nearby mezzanine floors: when we attempted to go and sit down and have our snacks and refreshments in peace, we were told off by the staff. We were told that we must remain on the small first floor area. Imagine this: it’s winter, you have overcoats, scarves, hats, handbag, sandwich in one hand, glass of wine in the other (for those old enough to remember the wine glasses given away for free at UK petrol stations in the 1980s … that type of silly wine glass! At the Opera House!). How we were meant to stand around and consume I have no idea. The Opéra de Nice staff had no idea either. There weren’t even any high tables you get at London theatres or conference establishments. The best option would have been to sit on the floor!

Then I got a telephone message from friends who said they were upstairs at the second floor bar, and that we should go there to join them, and that there was plenty of seating there. Once again we were admonished for daring to try and budge with our sandwiches and wine. “You must stand still!” We decided to abandon the food and wine and move upstairs - where they were selling exactly the same sandwiches and drinks!

Although we had already had our tickets checked on the ground floor at the bottom of the stairs, a surly attendant told us off for daring to walk past her on the way to the second floor bar without brandishing our tickets. We rummaged in our winter coats to reproduce the tickets once again.

At the intermission, I joined the queue to buy a couple of cups of coffee. There was a box of chocolate bars just to the right of where drinks are served and payment is made. Just as the person at the head of the line immediately in front of me was gathering his drinks and preparing to walk away, I reached out to pick up a couple of chocolate bars to go with our coffees (hypoglycaemia was setting in now after having had to abandon the sandwiches!). The person in front of me left the bar 3 seconds later, but yet again I was admonished by the woman serving (the same woman who served wine on the first floor!) for having the audacity to touch her chocolates before actually physically being pushed against the bar. “Don’t take the chocolates yet!”

So, basically, if you enjoy being treated disrespectfully as a paying patron of the Opéra de Nice; and if you love being chastised like a child in your middle-age, you must visit the Nice Opera House for refreshments. Don’t expect to be treated like an esteemed guest.

We were well dressed for the occasion, but the only people of colour there by the way … one can’t help but wonder (see other reviews)… There was certainly a sense that we were utterly unwelcome.

In the UK, unfortunately sometimes customer service people in France have a reputation for being unbending and grumpy. Opéra de Nice staff are doing all they can to reinforce that unfair reputation.