The Stage Pub Nottingham — Restaurant in Nottingham

What started out as a fantastic night of meeting friends, singing Karaoke, and enjoying several pints of hand drawn Stage bitter, followed by a brace of Jaegers, poured by friendly and polite staff, ended with the feeling that our custom that night had meant nothing to the establishment. Having spent, between us, almost £100 on drinks, and been active in involving ourselves in the entertainment, due to the bar, and karaoke being very quiet, we came to the end of the night.... We left promptly when asked to but I returned from outside, within 30 seconds of leaving the premises, after noting that I had 7 minutes before my tram home, and as I had found myself needing the loo and hadn't had chance to go before being ushered out. As was snowing outside and as I was in need of the toilet anyway I popped back in and announced to the 'security' chap that I just wanted to nip to the loo before catching my tram and that we had been customers for a good part of the night. It wasnt much to ask. I was literally outside for under 30 seconds, the security detail, whom I could see was enjoying the fact that I was desperate for a wee, and that he had the power to make that either a problem or a relief, insisted that the Pub was now closed, even though it would have been no trouble to the staff or management for me to quickly using the toilet, as they were all just beginning their clean down, I explained that our party (the rest of them waiting patiently outside) had been in the establishment for pretty much the entire evening, and that he had seen this himself, and that i hoped he would be kind enough to permit me to use the toilet before setting off on our 40 minute tram journey home... The security detail seemed to thoroughly enjoy saying NO. It didn't seem to matter that we had had a great night, nor did it matter that I was hardly asking for a late drink, or that I had literally stepped outside and stepped back in again. It was a simple request, after being in the establishment all night, just to pop to the loo.... but that request was refused, and refused rudely I might add. I wanted to speak to the manager, but to be honest, the doorman was behaving like he was the manager... I asked if i could speak to the manager about it and was told no. So I could not find a manager to take up my cause with, and the security guard on duty at the time, who couldn't have cared less about my predicament, and even less about whether i left feeling like i had a great time or not It wasn't even a weekend night, or busy, it was a Thursday and we had been, for the most part, the only people using the karaoke and had put our hearts and souls into having a good time along with the karaoke host and handful of other customers. Sadly, the whole experience, which up until the unreasonable refusal to use the conveniences was one of the best nights I had had in a long time, with great beer, great company, great service from the bar staff and great entertainment by way of a karaoke, was ruined by one officious security bod, who really didn't have to be obnoxious or uncaring as to my needs as a customer. I literally walked outside, saw the tram times and walked back in asking to use the toilets before I left simply as I had a little time and was to be honest, busting to use the loo... Whole experience of coming to The Stage for a night was completely ruined by the insensitive approach and lousy common sense from your doorman. Why are your doormen permitted to talk to paying customers as though they are nothing, the moment the bar stops serving and why after spending considerable amounts on liquid refreshments, are we not allowed to use the toilets before we actually leave?. I would have expected something along the lines of.."Of course you can use the toilets before you leave us proper sir, I hope you had a great time tonight", but that didn't happen, instead, a stubborn and rather obnoxious member of your establishments security detail pretty much ruined the whole experience in one fell swoop. It's little irritants like this...

Pubs make a profit selling Diet Coke (on tap) at £3 a pint. Pubs like the Stage try to double/triple their mark up by filling the glass with ice. The Stage, however, has gone a step further. “A pint ‘without ice’ costs more, almost double” I was told. Cost - almost £5 a pint! It might be ‘legal’ because of a loophole in Trading Standard laws but what a disgusting example of profiting. Take my advice, go elsewhere.

Response: Hi Richard. I didn’t get a receipt however it was a card payment for £9.80 (2 x pint of Diet Coke) at 16:40 yesterday (3 July 25). I’m not convinced it was a mistake as the comment above was the quote by the barman. The picture attached was the barman who served me, if this helps. If you wish to take this off-line please let me have your...

I'm giving zero stars due to the rude bar tender. The pub was busy as I walked in the bar tender said to me can I help you with attitude in her voice even though there was people waiting at the bar. She said it like I wasn't welcome. I only went in as I needed the toilet as I am pregnant. I said to her I just need the toilet she replied saying with attitude as she walked off "the toilet is for customers only" I'm wondering if she didn't like the colour of my skin as I was the only black person in there because on my way out people that were walking in she said nothing to them. Absolutely disgusting...