Bottled water in restaurants - what's the most you have paid?

Flat_Eric

Our weekend trip to London concluded last night with a meal in our hotel pub. On the back of the thread (tips in restaurants - moral question) I was annoyed to be caught out by the "would you like some water question" as we sat down for our food last night. It didn't occur to me to mention we would be happy with tap water so we were charged £3.80 for 750ml. It was only when I asked for a second bottle that I twigged we were going to be charged and I then spotted the other tables and the lovely free water they were drinking....

In the grand scheme of the whole weekend the charge for the water didn't really matter but combined with the 12.5 service charge they added (without mention and which wasn't spotted until today) and after misreading the wine menu (not realising the price quoted was only for 500ml) our meal last night was more expensive than anticipated. I enjoyed my meal (and wine) but I hate feeling ripped off.

What's the most you have paid for bottled water when eating out?

olias

I use to work for a tight a-se who served Aldi 2 litre fizzy water (straight on the table in the plastic Aldi labelled bottle!) It cost him 15p a bottle and he charged £3!!!!!! And this was a posh establishment!

olias

Flat_Eric

olias wrote: »

I use to work for a tight a-se who served Aldi 2 litre fizzy water (straight on the table in the plastic Aldi labelled bottle!) It cost him 15p a bottle and he charged £3!!!!!! And this was a posh establishment!

olias

ha ha. To be fair the water was chilled and of a reputable brand. I just objected to the sneaky way it was done really.

GwylimT

I always ask for a jug, so far I haven't been charges for it or presented with a bottle of water, but then the poshest place we have been in a while is pizza express, hardly the ritz!

MarkBargain

£75 for 1.5l to beat...

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2014-07-28/customer-charged-75-for-3-bottles-of-water-during-the-heatwave/

hollydays

Flat_Eric wrote: »

ha ha. To be fair the water was chilled and of a reputable brand. I just objected to the sneaky way it was done really.

That's not sneaky, it's good service.

Takeaway_Addict

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Our weekend trip to London concluded last night with a meal in our hotel pub. On the back of the thread (tips in restaurants - moral question) I was annoyed to be caught out by the "would you like some water question" as we sat down for our food last night. It didn't occur to me to mention we would be happy with tap water so we were charged £3.80 for 750ml. It was only when I asked for a second bottle that I twigged we were going to be charged and I then spotted the other tables and the lovely free water they were drinking....

In the grand scheme of the whole weekend the charge for the water didn't really matter but combined with the 12.5 service charge they added (without mention and which wasn't spotted until today) and after misreading the wine menu (not realising the price quoted was only for 500ml) our meal last night was more expensive than anticipated. I enjoyed my meal (and wine) but I hate feeling ripped off.

What's the most you have paid for bottled water when eating out?

When is bottled water ever free at a restaurant?

Flat_Eric

hollydays wrote: »

That's not sneaky, it's good service.

We were offered water and accepted. I didn't twig that we should have been clear and asked for the tap water that the other tables had!

tgon

I saw bar staff in a restaurant in Reading filling empty Perier bottles with tap water ready to go out to tables for £3 a piece once. If I get bottled water I make sure it's brought to me unopened!

Sharon87

The most I've paid for a bottle of water at a restaurant is £4.50!! This did serve 5 of us though, plus it was at a really posh restaurant (up the Shard).

I know all about the trick restaurants do when they ask you if you want water, if you don't say tap water, they'll bring you bottles they charge for.

hollydays

Flat_Eric wrote: »

We were offered water and accepted. I didn't twig that we should have been clear and asked for the tap water that the other tables had!

Perhaps it's an mse tip that should be highlighted. When I went out with a group of friends for a meal at a restaurant that I knew had expensive drinks prices, I asked for a jug of water. I'm sure this has been highlighted on mse before though. As said, few restaurants give away bottled water and they ARE a business.

If you sat in the bar and they asked would you like a drink- you wouldn't expect that to be free.