bottled water.

[sunflower68]

We asked for a bottle of water with dinner last night. It said on the menu they do not serve tap water which I thought was a legal requirement. Also when the water came there was no lid whatsoever and they charged over 3 quid for it!! If we hadn't had so much wine and weren't having such fun I would have spoken up last night. Any one have any ideas whether this is ok or not?

[ChuckFickens]

There is no legal requirement for anywhere to supply you with tap water for free, they are fully within their rights to refuse to serve it. (though mean in my opinion and I also would refuse to tip if they wouldn't supply a glass of water)

If they do supply you with tap water they can also charge you for that, I was always led to believe when I worked in pubs that you can't charge for the actual water, but you can charge a service charge for supplying it and you can charge "rent" on the glass.

[ummmm]

They are perfectly within their rights to charge. Someone had to go and fill that bottle with tap water and bring it to your table. Then they have to wash your glass and rinse the bottle out ready for the next mug to ask for water.

[hc4361]

Unless the law has recently changed there is no legal requirement for restaurants to serve tap water.
Not against the law
The outrage that this report has provoked is understandable, but why do some bars and restaurants not have to supply free water? In the UK, it is not the law – as many people are led to believe – that establishments must serve water on tap for free. In Britain, an astonishing nine out of ten restaurants fail to supply tap water to their customers and many bars charge for water – often up to 30 pence per 100ml glass.
http://www.foodeu.com...e+In+Restaurants.aspx

[ummmm]

It was on telly on Thursday. They can charge for tap water.

[ChuckFickens]

Well we all agree that they can place a service charge on supplying tap water, but that's not the question here really.

I stand by what I said, there is no legal requirement for any restaurant or pub to supply tap water at all, they can simply refuse to do so.

[divegirl]

http://www.dailymail....-posh-restaurant.html

[joggerjayne]

When you eat out, you don't pay for the food ...

... anyone who pays £75 just to be fed, or £20 to drink a £5 bottle of wine, would be nuts.

What you are paying for is the experience of having someone else prepare the food for you and bring it to your table, and for eating it on thier premises.

If you want a free water, you can eat at home.

[ChuckFickens]

OK, I am prepared to admit when I am wrong :)

http://www.morningadv...censingConditions.pdf

However, in my defence the change in the licensing conditions only happened last month and it only applies to licensed restaurants. non licensed premises still have no obligation under law to provide free tap water.

[ummmm]

Why was in Telly on Thursday then? Unless it was a repeat of an older programme...

It was that consumer programme on BBC1 in the morning.

[sunflower68]

grrr I am so cross with that place now...we did want tap water but there is a sign on the menu saying they do not serve tap water. The water in the lidless bottle was clearly tap water at 3.50 per bottle. Hmmmm who can I call next week...

[ummmm]

You can't prove that though.

[sunflower68]

I can prove what the menu states and, should anyone official check their premises they may find empty bottles, who knows. Funnily enough this place has just been fined quite a bit for employing illegal immigrants; you'd think they would be a bit careful really.

[ummmm]

Is it an offence to not update your menus within a month of a new law?

[ChuckFickens]

"it has always been the case that tap water had to be supplied to diners if they ask"

Would you be able to provide any information to back that statement up?

[eash]

http://www.theanswerb...t/Question349514.html

[philkool]

Next time you go for a meal take your own water for medical reasons.
That will get them gobbin in your dinner