Caffè Nero — Restaurant in Leeds

Dealt with an extremely rude and abusive manager who shouted at me in the middle of the establishment, humiliating me in front of customers when I did nothing to do deserve such treatment.

I ordered a drink and sat at a table shortly before I had to run to the loo. I informed a staff at bar (who turned out to be the manager) that I had to visit the restroom and asked that my table not be cleared (which had my full cup of tea and a box of cakes I had bought elsewhere). I went ahead to the toilet to return to an empty table. I asked the same staff if my stuff was kept aside. She appeared pissed and proceeded to walk out of her counter to approach a male staff about the table he cleared. The staff had informed her that my box of cakes were in the bin and she looked at them and asked that he took them out for me to hand them to me. I was appalled that she was thought it was okay for me to be handed back food that had been in the bin.

I asked her if she thought it was okay for me to be eating cake from the bin. She then raised her hands up and shouted at me in front of many customers, saying "What? Do you expect me to go get you a cake?" Not only was she not empathetic towards the situation, she was incredibly arrogant and aggressive. I was so shocked by her behaviour that I had to ask her to calm down before she further lashed out at me saying "Am I supposed to stand there at your table to watch your drink?" and "Do you see that the queue of customers?". She did all these while a queue of customers watched on. By this time, I was completely in shock at her abusive behaviour and approached the male staff instead, asking if I could speak with the manager. He told me she was the manager and that the (lovely and polite) staff who had served me initially had gone home, so having no other choice, I waited for the queue to get settled before I approached the manager, explaining to her that I do not appreciate being shouted at.

I had recorded the exchange to protect myself from any further abuse by her and informed her so. She was extremely hostile and threatened me with the police. I very gently informed her that she was free to call the police if she wished, before I went on to explain the situation. She interrupted me throughout as I explained that I did not expect her to watch my table as she had taunted me for, but that I had only asked that my table not be cleared as I needed to visit the toilet. Beyond the lack of basic courtesy in letting me finishing talking, she also sarcastically asked me if "we were having a dialogue or if I was talking to myself". She then went on to taunt me about how "I wasn't allowed to bring my own food", accusing me of consuming outside food that I clearly had not. My cakes were in a box, never opened, let alone consumed in the cafe.

I had to repeat three times that I didn't want to stay in the store and that I just want to be compensated for my loss and wanted to leave. She wanted to know what cake I had brought in and I told her I had a carrot cake and two brownies in the box. She was not convinced and thought I was lying, and humiliated me further by wanting to pull it out the bin to look at its contents, to which I said she could go ahead and check for herself. She confirmed I indeed had what I said I had in the box before she asked if I was okay having a carrot cake and two brownies, but changed her mind and said she would call her area manager. After waiting awhile, she came back offering me 1 cake, 1 takeaway drink, and 1 fully-stamped card.

For a manager, she lacks professionalism, has failed in her conduct, and is not fit to be operating as one. Being non-empathetic towards the situation is one thing, but being arrogant and abusive is a whole other....

I would nt give any . One star only for the cake looking good on display. My son in hospital for few days. I was very tired. Hoped for a coffee and cake. Went in all the way with a mask on right into the queue until was my turn.at that point, took my mask off as I was ordering, and rude lady behind the till says until I dont sit down with my food I have to leave my mask on. Now I ordered ready to pay and sit .this was not table service. I thought what difference does it make in a fraction of a second I'm breathing In the same way in the shop,and not any different to when I order and to have the actual food in my hand and sit. I looked around the cafe and no one had a mask on . Were they breathing any different? Were they breathing from till point to sitting down . The staff I felt pick and choose who to bully on. Scientifically there is no evidence that a mask sheilds and protects. It can can have an effect. What rude person. I rejected and left cafe Nero, an not being insulted and paying . Im exempt anyway due to my health anyway. But still i make effort to do on my behalf. Take my money elsewhere. Wont be going...

Yes it is a nice cosy place with subdued lighting . The food and coffee is great . My problem was finding out how on Earth I could get in . !!!! There are steps all around and it’s raised over a metre from the main pavement . I eventually found my way in by heading up the pavement to Tesco express and going down the side of it and then along the hidden footpath of Cityside . Across the front of the building into Nero’s None of which I have entered has a sign indicating how and where to go . Having said that once you know it’s not a problem . The other main problem for me is parking with a rear access vehicle so close to the hospital where parking has become difficult . It’s an area well patrolled by wardens and I found a nice double yellow line so I could unload and then return to my car and not be blocked in !! Not recommended without a...