Grab a drink and settle in for this:
Before detailing my complaint (which I will be escalating further), i think its important to provide context and that this review is regarding the Assitant Manager Charlotte, who in my opinion needs to be stripped of her role immediately.
Ive visited badger box multiple times with my friends for saturday night pub quiz. There are usually anywhere between 3-5 of us, varying in age from 23 to 33. Not once have we ever been asked to provide ID for drinks and not once have we been made to essentially feel like criminals.
We arrived last night around 20:30 for the quiz and within moments of sitting down, was challenged by a lady - not asking - but demanding ID. No hello, just immediate "attack". One of us had physical ID on us, but again, because we've been multiple times and never been asked, AND as we are all well over 18 we didnt expect such confrontation. We were told we'd need to leave by half 9 if we couldnt provide ID. Fortunately another regular sat nearby, spoke up and vouched that we come often and everything seemed to be resolved. The lady then left us to it.
For reference 1 of us had physical ID, the rest of us had phone ID which as of 2025 can be legally accepted. (We were told that only physical ID could be accepted though).
As we believed all was well at this point and despite the somewhat hostile welcome, we proceeded to order alcoholic drinks and some food via the app. We were then challenged by a different, younger member of staff who in fairness, at least had people skills and could have a laugh. We still stressed that we were well over 18, and showed the IDs in the best forms we had on us. This again wasnt accepted so i went to the bar to speak to the staff away from our table as some of my friends at this point were feeling really uncomfortable and frustrated.
I came to the bar and was quite jovial and bantering about how weve been multiple times before, never been asked for ID, that we were all well over 18 and that we have provided evidence of that in both physical and virtual format. Again to be clear, at this point i was being cheeky and having banter. This was when charlotte came over and escalated the situation. Her demeanor was unacceptable, it was hostile, aggressive and her tone/attitude was quite frankly abysmal. The context of what she was saying was the same as her colleagues re. The challenge 25 but it was the way in which she said it. Im a business owner & Director and would never allow any of my customers/patients to be spoken to in that way, whether they were in the wrong or not. Its not what you say its how you say it.
I then asked for our money back for the quiz which the quiz master provided. I went back to the table and all my friends and had enough, we just wanted to leave. I requested a refund for the food we'd ordered (2x chicken fillets and halloumi fries). I was told i couldnt have a refund by Charlotte stating it was Greene King Policy. You would expect given the way me and my friends had been quite frankly harassed, belittled and spoken to for the last 30 minutes, id get an immediate refund but charlotte wasnt allowing it.
At this stage i had all 3 staff arguing with me about the refund and the challenge 25. I was not in the least bit bothered about the challenge 25 but i was bothered about how we'd all been spoken to & now i wanted my money back and to leave. We'd not had any goods at this point. Charlotte continued to argue back & raise her voice. Eventually she said i could have my refund but that me and my friends were BANNED from returning. Escalating things further - power tripping.
(I was ecstatic with the ban to be fair...)
We could not fathom how we have been here multiple times, without issues and now all this. I was genuinely astounded by how i was being spoken to by Charlotte - a complete disgrace - zero people skills and from what onlookers told me afterwards, this was her usual behaviour.
You've lost yourself regulars, you've lost revenue and i shall be making more noise about this over the...
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