Anyone else been refused tap water in restaurant

celloroni

We had to pay £1 for a jug of tap water at Southend's Wok n Grill. Other than that, it's one of my favourite restaurants.

Mistral001

jk321 wrote: »

The correct statutory reference for the legal right to tap water should be Schedule 1 Para 3 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order 2010, rather than Section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003. This imposes a condition on the licence holder to serve tap water to customers:

"3. The responsible person shall ensure that free tap water is provided on request to customers where it is reasonably available."

So to be clear this law only applies to licensed premises. Cafes and restaurants which are not licensed can refuse to give free tap water.

stefano

I have just learned that some hotels and restaurants will filter their tap water, bottle it and sell it as theirs. They use this company, http://www.ecopurewaters.com/ , and you can see many 5 stars establishments doing that. One particular place in East Grinstead, charges £4 a bottle of filtered tap water, and bottles in those:

and this:

It really brings back memories of Delboy's Peckham spring in Only Fools and Horses:

Mistral001

So the local hotels filter the water and bottle it instead of paying a manufacturer in England, France or ROI etc. to do exactly the same thing and add their profit to it.

dmxdave

jk321 wrote: »

The correct statutory reference for the legal right to tap water should be Schedule 1 Para 3 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order 2010, rather than Section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003. This imposes a condition on the licence holder to serve tap water to customers:

"3. The responsible person shall ensure that free tap water is provided on request to customers where it is reasonably available."

As this is the NI board

According to Section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003, which came into force in April 2010, all restaurants in England and Wales that serve alcohol are legally required to give customers free tap water (the legislation for Scotland is the same, but it's a different act). Those that don't are under no obligation to do so.

In Northern Ireland, however, there's no equivalent provision. Restaurant owners don't have to provide anything free, though tap water is conventionally free in many restaurants. To avoid possible infringement of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, restaurants should tell customers in advance that they charge for tap water.

Horasio

Anyone who is too tight and petty to provide a jug of water deserves to go out of business.

BigAndy_79

Hi Folks,

I do a lot of eating out (mostly in Belfast) and a few months ago I returned to Victoria's Restaurant and, as per usual, I asked for a glass of water, which I normallly have with my meals. I was refused as "they don't do tapwater." I was quite astonished at this. I quite like this place as the food is decent and it is well located for me. This, however, has really put me off going back as I drink water to be healthier, plus it saves me £1-80 or a 275ml bottle of Coke, or whatever the case may be. I find it pretty ridicuolus that they wouldn't offer tapwater, but hey ho, that's their decision. . .

BigAl94

BigAndy_79 wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I do a lot of eating out (mostly in Belfast) and a few months ago I returned to Victoria's Restaurant and, as per usual, I asked for a glass of water, which I normallly have with my meals. I was refused as "they don't do tapwater." I was quite astonished at this. I quite like this place as the food is decent and it is well located for me. This, however, has really put me off going back as I drink water to be healthier, plus it saves me £1-80 or a 275ml bottle of Coke, or whatever the case may be. I find it pretty ridicuolus that they wouldn't offer tapwater, but hey ho, that's their decision. . .

If that was Restaurant Victoria in Great Victoria Street - it has closed !!!!

BigAndy_79

BigAl94 wrote: »

If that was Restaurant Victoria in Great Victoria Street - it has closed !!!!

No mate, it is 'Victoria' on Victoria Street - opposite the corner entrance to House of Frazer on Chicester Street !

saverbuyer

BigAndy_79 wrote: »

No mate, it is 'Victoria' on Victoria Street - opposite the corner entrance to House of Frazer on Chicester Street !

Previously the Advocate before it went bust?