B Lounge — Restaurant in Manchester

Rather than write a review, I am happy to forward an email I sent to this "outfit" who have not even had the decency to reply. It was a letter of complaint they probably thought I would soon forget about if they brushed it under their ragged carpet. I have not forgot. As always, reviews are reviews. I read many, and if I am honest, if I want to visit somewhere enough, a damning review will probably not deter me.However I ask anybody taking their precious time to read this to please take note. The letter read as follows:

To whom it may concern.

I have been meaning to write in for some considerable time now regarding three unpleasant visits to your Piccadilly outlet. I have held back solely because I had a further visit planned, in which I was prepared to give your company chance to redeem itself by hopefully providing a more pleasant experience. I visited as recently as Monday evening with my partner Susan.

I was enticed by the sign outside advertising 2-4-1 cocktails, so we made our way inside. I was handed a menu with a list of varied cocktails all advertised at the same price which I deemed at the “offer” price, more than reasonable. Susan selected hers and I chose a different one. This is where our trouble began.

Ludicrously we was told we had to choose the same one??!! This was not pointed out on the board I explained to the pretty but somewhat nonchalant barmaid(assisted for vocal support by another staff member sat at the bar) After her pitting her woeful defence with some argument about “stock and measures” we supped up and moved on with a sour taste in our mouths(not left by the cocktail it has to be said). We later walked to your “sister” pub-The Bridge, who were more than happy for us to choose different cocktails under the same offer. You do well to take example of this.

I will now tell you while I am on a roll about my other two pitiful experiences. My partner and I have a 14month old child who we took with us approximately this time last year to your non-customer friendly Piccadilly Bar. It was a warm day and we wanted a quick drink sat outside before catching our train to Sheffield but was told rather bluntly that a trolley was not welcome outside.

Another incident that upset me deeply was a friend of mine being refused entry on the grounds of non suitable attire. My friend being a Scottish professional footballer who had arrived wearing his teams official tracksuit emblazoned with club crest. Now I can understand a staff members’ reluctance to allow entrance to some hoodlum wearing a football top and cut off denim wear, but this was something else. If it is an offence to wear what in essence was a smart uniform then we are all heading for trouble. It feels to me that your branch is thriving on the fact that they hold the monopoly of being the only pub where passing trade can enjoy a drink whilst seated outside. A case of we can rest on our laurels “as people will come in regardless of how we treat them”.

Finally, as recently as six month ago I passed on praise about a staff member at the Blue Parrot. I was thanked for this and given four tickets for 50% off food to use at any of your four outlets. I walked away happy feeling quite privileged to be given them as I certainly expected nothing and did not pass praise for anything in return. Later that month I seen my “reward” being handed out for fun by a staff member on Portland St.

There are many plus points with your pubs, I have found them generally clean, food of a decent standard, wide variety of drinks albeit a tad expensive for the average working man, and decent late night entertainment but enough is enough, and after reading several reviews online, my views appear duplicated somewhat telling me that many things need to be approved upon.. . .

. . . Customer Service being foremost.

Although I wont hold my breath I do hope you at least address my concerns and hope(not foolishly) for a...

Treated like social pariahs . Worst experience I've had in a long time. I feel very upset writing this review, but I will stick to the facts. Because these are witnessed, undeniable and factual. So you can make up your own mind. We arrived on a Tue night. Having stayed in a local hotel, the plan was to go for a nice meal together, before flying out on holiday. It was pouring heavily with rain. We took a wrong turn in the dark. The person I was with was disabled with a walking cane. So we came across here...asked if they were still serving food and came Inside. Settled in a private snug , Looking forward to a nice meal and some time together after our travelling. We were wearing a 6 Nations rugby top, and a designer t shirt , jeans and designer shoes....So we were sober, polite , not scruffy and happy to be there. The waitress came to take a drinks order...so a got coffee and a diet pepsi ( no decaf coffee). We looked at the food menu....A man walked up and down the general pub area,with a phone to his ear. He appeared to be directing the staff. He stared and stared in at us. The waitress arrived. Brought us the drinks and asked for our order. We chose fish and chips and a falafel burger with fries. The waitress looked uncomfortable. She announced at the table that we had to ' pay for out drinks and food together, immediately'. Whilst taken aback, I politely agreed, she presented the card payment machine she had already brought with the drinks. I paid....thought it odd and got on with chatting to my companion. The food arrived. Bog standard fish and chips out the freezer....Mine, falafel burger, brioche bun, fries...except it wasn't.....it was a cheap frozen vege burger with potatoe, carrots, green beans and sweetcorn. The type from the pound shops. Cold and hungry I ate some.of my meal and waited to be table checked. Eventually the waitress returned. I explained the mistake, she went to the kitchen and returned and said....' the chef didn't have any falafel and hadn't told her' 'So just decided to give me a vege burger' . The chef had made out it was the waitresses fault for not knowing of the deficit, and also, had just decided to serve something different. Without consulting the person ordering , or bothering to tell the waitress serving. Now given that I carry an EpiPen.....this could have been fatal....... The waitress went back to the kitchen and returned and said would 'we like another drink Instead' , we politely declined as we still had our original drinks and didn't need more. She returned and offered deserts. There were 2 options. Chocolate fudge cake and honey Combe cheese cake....we agreed to this.....one of each please......she left and returned with a card machine and a receipt from the till. She said we had to pay for one deserts. Surprise, I didn't argue, and promptly paid. Not wishing to ruin the night further with my companion. The desert arrived....bog standard catering fudge cake and ice cream and a.pretty looking cheese cake. However, once again the food wasn't as appeared. The cheesecake didn't taste of honeycombe, but of an orangy passion fruit flavour.. Once again , an allergy risk, food not what it was labeled to be. We were not table checked a second time....we ate in silence and left. Now I have no idea what warranted this treatment. Homophobia, Racism, Ableism, Snobbery.....all were possible...but difficult to say what prompted such hostility and Why we were served deliberately wrong food , putting us both at risk. An appalling night by all standards. As I said, everything can be factually witnessed and verified. So you can draw your own conclusions. I will be following...

Absolutely shocking!! We visited this bar for a lunch a couple of weeks ago. It was not particularly busy, 10 of us. The food was OK nothing special but we had some of the worst service EVER! One of the party ordered pizza, everyones order came out..we asked where it was and was told soon. We all ate our dinner and then still no pizza! We went to the bar and asked where it was...for the third time to be told they'd forgotten it and it would be with us in 10 mins. It then arrived and it was the wrong pizza....with ingredients that the individual was allergic too! They kindly said would cook another but it would be yet another 15 minutes! But she could have her money back for the food. They didn't offer anything else to say sorry no free drink or nibbles while she was waiting or even an apology. Avoid! So she went to the shop across the road and had a...