HORRIFIC, SHAMEFUL EXPERIENCE

I decided to treat my wife and son to a nice meal at The Bellhouse, I say ‘treat’ as usually the visits here are great and myself and my family usually enjoy the food and the service. However today was a total exception and a complete disgrace. It began after the 3 of us were seated upstairs on a table for 4 We were about to order when I received a phone call from my brother and his wife asking if they could join us. As my sister in law is disabled they have not ventured out of their own home since lockdown so this also should have been a nice treat for them and we were all obviously looking forward to catching up. To ensure my sister in laws safety and well being as she can’t climb stairs we asked if we could be seated downstairs on a table for 5 or alternatively outside if no space was available in the main dining area. This did not seem a problem for the assistant serving us, he said in his own words “that isn’t a problem” and he quickly arranged a table downstairs in the dining area for us and we began to move. My brother and sister in law arrived and we began to get comfortable. This is where the experience went appallingly downhill. The assistant serving us had said again “it was not a problem at all” putting a fifth chair around our table in the main dining area for us all to be seated, we didn’t mind sitting inside or outside as long as it was downstairs and could accommodate all 5 of us, however a rather rude, abrupt and very arrogant manageress appeared and told us this was against the rules and we can’t have 5 persons on the table. I kindly reminded her of the situation and that we had said that we did not mind either a table inside or outside and that the assistant serving us had told us this was not a problem. I was absolutely disgusted and dumbfounded when I heard her reply as she went on to call me “A LIAR” I asked her to repeat what she called me and she told me I was lying. I was totally humiliated in front of not only my own family which included my wife, my son, my brother and his disabled wife but I was also called “A LIAR” in front of the entire dining area by this shameful and rude manageress. What exactly I was supposed to be lying about I’m still not sure?? Was it that I hadn’t asked to be moved downstairs ?? Was I lying about my disabled sister in law ?? Was I supposed to be lying about the assistant who told us earlier “it wasn’t a problem” ?? I found the manageress to be rude, arrogant and aggressive in her approach to this situation and still cannot believe I was called “A LIAR” in front of everybody. I am appalled by her behaviour and disgusted to be called a liar by her. I will certainly never forget this experience and would kindly ask whoever it is that employs this person to take a serious look at her and review her situation, as based on her attitude towards me today I have to ask the question ‘why would you employ such a disgraceful, discriminative individual’ I hope someone takes note of this to ensure in the future another completely innocent person looking for a nice treat for their family don’t get called names when out for a supposedly enjoyable lunch. Such disgraceful behaviour does not belong in this usually lovely establishment.