Would not return.
Visited here last night after seeing the hype on social media for birthday drinks before popping to the theatre. Greeted and had a few laughs with security at the door. Didnt have a table booked so was advised to go to the bar, which we was happy about. Got our drinks part of the 241 cocktails. Stood to the side near the piano area where others were seated at their booked tables. Not an issue.
The waiters were whizzing around whilst taking in turns to sing. We complimented the staff as they were going about. Had a small interaction with one, to ask, a name of a musical song and if the mic could be turned up as sadly handful of songs could not be heard at all over the chitter chatter. Was recieved well with a light hearted chat. We then spotted a space at the piano itself so moved there to appreciate the amazing lady on keys. Which is were we noticed song requests cards. So I filled one out, my partner wanted a different song to me, so I started to fill out another one but again he couldnt remember name of song so asked the same waiter, no issues. The couple next to us also wrote on a card and I noticed there comment was asking for a change of songs 'as the same ones had been playing since the afternoon', so can only assume they had been there 2-3+ (potentially for the brunch they offer) as it was approx 17:15 when we arrived and I filled our request at 17:51. The cards were glanced over but ignored by who I can only describe as maybe one of the main singers that night. So my partner, slid over a card I boldly wrote 'rent' on, he tapped the card were she was standing to get her attention and asked when the songs would be covered as we were leaving at 1900. Where we was told not yet, there are other songs and its not the vibe for it at the moment. (Songs from a musical were not the vibe)? At this point I said to my partner that its a shame and wasnt a great system for song requests if there just ignored. That comment was among ourselves.
We then was singing along, enjoying ourselves. I then was on my phone, minding my own business when my partner then got up and walked away (assumed he went toilet). But not too long after, I was approached by a member of staff to ask to get our coats and leave as my partner had been kicked out. You can imagine I was shocked. I asked for an explanation as I could not fathom why. I was directed outside the venue where I was greeted by my partner defending his case to who may of been the owner or manager of security, named Christian. I asked what had happened.
We was told the main singer had made a complaint to her management team that she felt intimitated by my partner as he invaded her personal space and was 'heckling' her for 30mins during her performances and was agressively flinging request cards at her. Christian said she was intimitated to the point where she was shaking. I was absolutely appauld and embarrased by this.
As it was absolutely incorrect. We didnt leave our seats and was over an arms length away. Not once did we speak to the singers whilst mid performance. I wrote the request cards, not him and he simply tapped the side to ask to gauge whether or not we will hear them before we leave, as it was my birthday. He then joined me in watching a video of our son on my phone. Other than that we asked a waiter twice of what names of songs were and if it was possible to turn the mic up shortly after arriving. Otherwise we're praising the singers on there performances and singing along. I feel if my partner was harassing, being aggressive in his demeanor that it was intimidating, that would of been felt amongst others that were there and would of upsetted there experience there. However there was no signs or complaints of this.
It then worsened whilst observing my partner defending his case outside. As Christian asked many times what was wrong with my partner. After approximately the third time of him asking my partner I had to intervene. As subconciously Christian was implying there was something wrong with my partner due to his facial expressions during this interaction. I can only assume from experience in my job, he was implying my partner was under the influence of drugs - however my partner has tics, which are exacerbated by stressful situations. Which I then had to explain. There wasn't particularly any interest in our side of the story as he supports his staff, which although we can be understanding of, we were not accepting we had done anything wrong - as we hadnt. I'm a female, so will not dismiss how the singer felt as that can be subjective to a person - however what was explained was not what happened. So we asked for him to review the CCTV. Which he claims he did whilst talking to this singer again. When he returned he explained the singer retracted her statement of saying we did not invade her personal space, however felt intimitated as my partner 'heckled' her for 30 mins whilst she was also performing, in a intimidating manner. So when asked did you see that on the CCTV he said I stopped watching the CCTV when she said you did not invade her personal space because you cannot hear audio over the CCTV. Which again was upsetting because from our time of arrival, buying our drinks, standing to then sitting to writing that first request card was approximately 30mins until being 'kicked out' approximately just after 18:00. Our duration there was approx 40 minutes before being asked to leave - which would mean we/my partner heckled that member of staff from the moment we arrived ??. I was then shown a quick glimpse of a live feed of CCTV from his phone of the CCTV location that covered us, it covered our backs to the right of the piano. So the interaction of us interrupting her mid performance would have been covered as you would of seen her with the microphone and would of seen us directly turn round to speak to her if that was the case. You would of clearly been able to see flinging of cards across the piano but was advised that wouldn't of been possible given the cameras position despite being shown it?. We got no where, there was no apology. We didn't want to to be told we was right or be invited back as firstly we didnt want too and secondly at this point this whole encounter fed into the start of a theatre show for my birthday. I simply gave learning points/feedback for Christian i.e movement of his CCTV directly above the piano for his staff and a different system for song requests (potentially a QR code which take you to a poll to upload songs seeeming as they have an ipad they use for lyrical guidance (I believe) beside the piano) and that an apology for ruining our night would of been nice. Which of course was not recieved. As the outcome wasn't sufficient, my partner felt this is something he wanted to escalate and requested for more information in regards to do this, as it was well within our right to rquest this which was greeted with hostility, which in turn really upsetted my partner as we felt we had been up to this point reasonable despite how upset we were due to false allegations. Due to the hostile response and for evidence purposes at this point my partner recorded the refusal to give information which led to Christian threatening to call the police.
If we hadn't already missed the start of our show or had the show to go to, I would of happily of stayed for the police involvement that's how riduclous the whole thing was. Just to prove we had done nothing wrong apart from being 2 people, celebrating a birthday, being baby free for the first time in 9 months, looking forward to attending this bar for pre drinks prior to our planned show and enjoyed the atmosphere, set up they had.
I reviewed other reviews left and have seen not many but some other reviews of others being falsely accused of behaviours, implying drugs where not true, song requests not being met and having to be there 3+ hrs to hear them and etc.
Such a MASSIVE dissapointment. Somewhere that could of been a go to place time after time being two musical enthusiasts will not return or recommend to others. 2 ?? for singers performance and nice drinks.