The Mailbox

We booked a table to watch the Ireland v Scotland rugby world cup game that had an 8pm kick off on a Saturday night. We did worry about how they would balance the showing of live sport against their regular Saturday night schedule. In hindsight, we should have realised they wont and just stayed at home.

Despite the website being explict that they were taking RWC specific bookings, there was no effort made to ensure that the game was enjoyable or even watchable.

We were stuck in a corner, with an obsecured view, so we couldn't see the screen properly or the score or gameclock and had to contend with people and barstaff constantly blocking ourview. The commentary was also drowned out by the DJ.

There were 3 tables between us and the screen who were not there for the game. The space was there to have arranged a different set up, if appropriately planned by the staff in advance. We asked a staff member about moving. He said he would check then ignored us.

Knowing we had pre booked for the game, we were given a table in the corner furthest from the screen and speakers, blocked by 3 tables who were closer to the screen yet not there for the game

Despite advertising bookings for the games, to say the effort put in to ensuring they were watchable was tokenistic, would be a generous exaggeration, at best.

If your priority is your regular Saturday night schedule that is understandable. I get that the rugby was not the priority for many. Then don't pretend otherwise and to do so is simply dishonest.

To those who might respond, "its Saturday night, what did you expect?" I simply expect the thing I booked to do, to be provided to a good standard. Mailbox had no interest in doing so. They should have simply not taken bookings for the later games as it is clear they are unable or unwilling to balance the competing needs.

If you want to see a game with a later kick off, I wouldn't come here. I certainly won't be back for any more games, early or late.