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09th Oct 2023

Pub owner’s brutal response to ‘cheap Charlie’ who took ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ too far

Joseph Loftus

‘Let me explain how an all you can eat carvery buffet works’

A pub owner has gone viral for his absolutely brutal response to a so-called “cheap Charlie” who gave a bad review to his all-you-can-eat because he wasn’t allowed to take food home.

Shaun Griffiths who is the owner of The George IV Inn in Powys, Wales, sells 800 carveries a week and most of the reviews are sky high.

However recently one reviewer wasn’t too happy with the pub and scored it just two stars – why? Well read the review for yourself.

The reviewer wrote: “I booked a Sunday lunch, if I had known when I booked a table I wouldn’t have booked as I don’t always eat my meal and I like to take it home. They said on the menu they don’t do take away boxes which is fine but I had a plate which I brought with me and it was still a no.

“Good food but this is a let down and I won’t be going back, just a heads up to anyone if they do like to take food home with them.”

Responding to the negative review, the owner, Shaun wrote: “Thank you so much for your review warning other Cheap Charlies that they cannot come to our All You Can Eat buffet and bring their own plates to overfill ours and then take the rest home.

“That is not the type of customer we want, nor one that will enable us to stay in business and thrive. If just one or two of your type heed your advice then you will have made our lives so much easier!

“Your comments about our food and service being very good is much appreciated though, and they will help attract the type of customer we want!

“I’m saddened you could only score us 2 stars out of 5 when all our other reviews are 5 star because we try extremely hard to offer high quality food at a reasonable price and openly print on our menu that our price is for eat in only. Let me explain how an all you can eat carvery buffet works.”

Shaun continued writing: “1) Go to the buffet and ask the carvery chef to carve you up to 3 different meats.

“2) Fill your plate with our huge selection of fresh vegetables, roasted potatoes, honey roasted parsnips, homemade stuffing and even cauliflower cheese if you wish.

“3) Add as much rich delicious homemade gravy as you wish. 4) Add your sauces such as horseradish, cranberry or apple.

“5) Take your plate with as much food as you can eat at the table, to your table and enjoy.

“Please note there is NO point 6 which states you take much more than you can eat at the table and have a free meal at home later with a plate you have smuggled into our restaurant under your coat or elsewhere that I dare not think of.

“If, as you state, you don’t eat much then go to one of our neighbouring restaurants that serve plated Sunday dinners and you will be much happier as their portions are more akin to your small appetite and then you will not have the dilemma of what to do with your leftovers as there won’t be any!

“On a side note we do provide foil for those customers that maybe want to take some scraps home for their dog. We hate waste here at the George IV Cwmtwrch.”

Target eliminated.

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