I ate there three nights ago. Food was good, but the manager – a woman, I did not take her name – distinctly lacked charm and diplomacy.

We sat down at 7.30 and were told we would have to give the table back at 9pm. We wholly understood.

At ten to nine, my friend and I were finishing off our cocktails. We were clearly almost through. But then the manager came by our table and said, with all the charm of a brick wall, ‘Do you want dessert? Because we need the table back at 9.’

We told her no, we didn't want dessert because we knew we had to give the table back shortly. She said nothing and left, only to return 4 minutes later with the bill, announcing, ‘here you go ladies, sorry but we need the table back.’ Again, no charm, no people skills, little sincerity.

Nonplussed, we made it off the table at exactly 9pm and went downstairs to the bar. When we emerged half an hour later, our table hadn't yet been given to anyone. All that unpleasantness for nothing.

My point in all this: as a manager, do not be aggressive to someone who did not provoke you. Learn the art of good management. It isn't rocket science and there are enough restaurants in London that pull it off.

I can forgive mistakes where food and service are concerned if the team serving me can charm their way out of it and apologise, but I can't accept – and won't pay for – rudeness.