We want to share an important update with our Betfair Community users.
Over the coming months, the Betfair Community platform will be winding down. The final active day for the platform will be December 21st. From December 22nd, users will no longer be able to access the platform.
Your discussions, insights, engagement, and, most importantly, feedback have helped shape the platform and guided innovation. Your feedback continues to be important to us, and we will continue to listen via our dedicated feedback channels, as well as through product testing and innovations.
To share your feedback and experience, visit: https://support.betfair.com/app/home
Chit Chat
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
A FORMER Wetherspoons worker has lifted the lid on being behind the bar at one of Britain’s most popular pub chains.
Vicky Castle spoke to Kent Live about the reality of working at the bargain boozer including serving hardened drinkers whiskey in the morning and walking into the men’s toilets at the weekend.
She said: “It's a not a place you want to work if you don't like customer service.
“But still, when you forget to look for a table number before you come up and order, I mentally facepalm.
“It's not that hard to remember, it's one number. No, don't just point in a general direction, that is not helpful.
“But there are also some other things us former soldiers of the nightlife front line would like you to know.”
Below is a rundown of Vicky's secrets from her time at "Spoons."
1. I'm not asking you if you mind that it's Pepsi because I actually care I just have to, it's the law. Besides, they taste exactly the same and you know it.
2. If you're queuing up at 9am for a pint of Ruddles I am judging you. Particularly if your Ruddles comes with a side of whisky.
3. If you have a strop about being ID'd you definitely will not be served. The maddy you're throwing is just highlighting how young you are. Get out, underage chancer.
4. I will quietly swear at you if you order a coffee at 10pm on a Friday night when it is six-deep at the bar. Don't expect it with a smile.
5. It's not cool when you come in and shout my name. I know we know each other, Sharon, but you're not getting your jug of WooWoo any quicker just because you're shouting my name.
6. I really don't appreciate it if you click or clap at me. And if you do, I will serve every single person in the whole town before I even acknowledge you are here. It does not work.
7. There is nothing quite as vile as the men's toilets in 'Spoons at 2am on a Saturday morning.
What? How? What is wrong with you people?
8. We really don't get tips, ever. Instead you just get shouted at because John Smiths has gone up 2p.
9. If you are a regular, you probably have a nickname based on what you drink.
Or what you get up to after having a few too many. That's right, bum-pinching Pete, we're watching you.
10. I curse you when you order drinks slowly and one by one.
I can remember more than one drink at time. And please don't wait until the end of the order to ask for a Guinness...
Vicky Castle spoke to Kent Live about the reality of working at the bargain boozer including serving hardened drinkers whiskey in the morning and walking into the men’s toilets at the weekend.
She said: “It's a not a place you want to work if you don't like customer service.
“But still, when you forget to look for a table number before you come up and order, I mentally facepalm.
“It's not that hard to remember, it's one number. No, don't just point in a general direction, that is not helpful.
“But there are also some other things us former soldiers of the nightlife front line would like you to know.”
Below is a rundown of Vicky's secrets from her time at "Spoons."
1. I'm not asking you if you mind that it's Pepsi because I actually care I just have to, it's the law. Besides, they taste exactly the same and you know it.
2. If you're queuing up at 9am for a pint of Ruddles I am judging you. Particularly if your Ruddles comes with a side of whisky.
3. If you have a strop about being ID'd you definitely will not be served. The maddy you're throwing is just highlighting how young you are. Get out, underage chancer.
4. I will quietly swear at you if you order a coffee at 10pm on a Friday night when it is six-deep at the bar. Don't expect it with a smile.
5. It's not cool when you come in and shout my name. I know we know each other, Sharon, but you're not getting your jug of WooWoo any quicker just because you're shouting my name.
6. I really don't appreciate it if you click or clap at me. And if you do, I will serve every single person in the whole town before I even acknowledge you are here. It does not work.
7. There is nothing quite as vile as the men's toilets in 'Spoons at 2am on a Saturday morning.
What? How? What is wrong with you people?
8. We really don't get tips, ever. Instead you just get shouted at because John Smiths has gone up 2p.
9. If you are a regular, you probably have a nickname based on what you drink.
Or what you get up to after having a few too many. That's right, bum-pinching Pete, we're watching you.
10. I curse you when you order drinks slowly and one by one.
I can remember more than one drink at time. And please don't wait until the end of the order to ask for a Guinness...
Show More
In 'spoons' Saturday lunchtime, not busy, had just withdrawn £100 ( 5 £20 notes) from ATM. Paid for pint and was given change for a tenner. Pulled clueless barman and was told I had given him a tenner... DEFINITELY. Asked him to get manager, whereupon grumpy geezer shows up and says, 'I'll have to cash up the whole till! I say, that's your barman's fault cocker, not mine. About 15 minutes later, grumpy geezer shows up, puts a tenner on the bar in front of me and walks away without saying a word.
I know what I gave you, you robbing **** and hiding down the other end of the bar pretending I'm invisible won't change that. Knobhead.
I know what I gave you, you robbing **** and hiding down the other end of the bar pretending I'm invisible won't change that. Knobhead.
I knew a barman once who reckoned to make more out of short changing customers than he got in wages.
That was in the days before digital tills, when they had to work out the cost of the drinks in their heads.
That was in the days before digital tills, when they had to work out the cost of the drinks in their heads.
I'm not asking you if you mind that it's Pepsi because I actually care I just have to, it's the law. Besides, they taste exactly the same and you know it.
No they don't. Pepsi tastes cheap and is cheaper, which is why they sell it.
No they don't. Pepsi tastes cheap and is cheaper, which is why they sell it.
There's a reason you're cleaning toilets at 2am on Saturday morning and it's not because you are a reincarnation of Steve Jobs is it? You're a mug that will spend your life in dead end jobs and rather than do something about it you'll moan and whinge about the people who pay your wages.
I had an evening job as a barman in '70/71 and loved every minute of it. It was a bit of a challenge adding up a big round of drinks in LSD at 10pm with a crowd of other people trying to get your attention. The night of decimal change over was fun with both currencies in the till but it made the arithmetic a doddle thereafter.
And yes, we did get tips which were pooled and shared out equally at the end of the shift.
And yes, we did get tips which were pooled and shared out equally at the end of the shift.
My great-great-grandfather was a publican at the turn of the century in East London. He died of alcoholism aged 42.
What's in the opening post illustrates the difference between an employee and a person in business.
The only thing about a customer that a business person is interested in is how much money they spend in the place.
All paying customers should be treated as royalty as long as they behave.
The only thing about a customer that a business person is interested in is how much money they spend in the place.
All paying customers should be treated as royalty as long as they behave.
"Keep the change" or "Have one yourself"
Say these magic words to any bar staff in any bar and you don't have to wait long to get served when you go up again
Say these magic words to any bar staff in any bar and you don't have to wait long to get served when you go up again
as an old car salesman friend said to me 'you get more aggravation from selling a 15 year old £300 Ford Sierra than you would selling a £20,000 motor ' 
8. We really don't get tips, ever.
Not allowed to buy the staff a drink in my local spoons love. Blame Tim.
Not allowed to buy the staff a drink in my local spoons love. Blame Tim.
Exactly right kenny mann, I do go to 'The Beehive' Wetherspoons in Brixton once or twice a week and the staff are not allowed to take tips there either which is a policy that I really don't agree with. I go in there because it's "earthy" for want of a better word and much more friendly than some of the other poncy gaffs nearby. Plus they show RUK and there is a William Hills a minute away and for an extremely busy pub it is very well managed and always clean and tidy with the staff I would rate as being excellent.
Evening Slippy. Happy new year mate. Funnily enough the staff at Leeds (Beckett's Bank) will accept a drink, so maybe it's the individual area manager who decides. Just checked the website and it states this.
Do employees retain all of their tips?
Any tips paid to employees are retained by them. The company does not manage tip payments on a local or national basis or impose any charges on employees
Do employees retain all of their tips?
Any tips paid to employees are retained by them. The company does not manage tip payments on a local or national basis or impose any charges on employees
And a very happy New Year to you G, lets hope 2018 is a great year for us both and everyone else on here for that matter.
And a very happy New Year to you G, lets hope 2018 is a great year for all of us on here mate.
J
might make town later on in the year for a meet
as long as you comb those dreadlocks out
ho ho
all the best mate
might make town later on in the year for a meet
as long as you comb those dreadlocks out
ho ho
all the best mate
That would be great Mo to meet up for a few beers in 2018, I'll look forward to it and a very Happy New Year to you and the missus mate 
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539