For over a year now I have been going to a pub in Purley on Friday nights to see bands. I don't go every Friday, but I do go quite often. I know several bar staff, and the manager, by their first names and I think I am known fairly well to them (because of my fairly distinctive looks I tend to stand out in a crowd and so people tend to remember me).
Because I drive to most places I go to I don't really drink so I am always well behaved and always enjoy myself and have a really good time (and a bit of a boogie to the music).
Recently they started posting bouncers on the doors to keep an eye on things and make sure there is no trouble.
Tonight I travelled the 20 minutes to get there only to be asked by the bouncers for ID.
Now, I don't normally carry ID with me for several reasons. Firstly, I don't have an ID card because they didn't exist when I was a teenager and long gone are the days when I could pass for under 21. This means that my only means of ID are my driving license and my passport. My driving license is still the bulky old paper one as it has not needed renewing yet. I don't like to carry about my driving license or passport if I don't need to because it would be an expensive hassle to replace either of them should they get lost. Also, they are awkward to stick in a back pocket and you don't really want to be sitting on them.
The pub had not put up any signs previously saying "make sure to bring ID because we'll be requiring it soon", nor did they have any warning of this on their website. So you can imagine my shock when they turned me away and wouldn't let me in because I couldn't produce ID. To make matters worse, one of the bar staff that I know was near the door and said that there was nothing he could do because they hire the bouncers to decide who gets in or out.
Now surely you would think in cases like this the staff (who have been there longer than the bouncers) would have the authority to say "look guys, I know this guy and can vouch for him. Let him in this time, but hey mate, make sure you bring your ID next time eh." Or something along those lines.
Frankly I think it is more than a little worrying that you can get in fewer and fewer places without first producing your "papers". Is this supposed to be a modern, democratic, enlightened, nation or a fascist state.
Anyway, I'm not sure I want to go there again now. When the manager won't let you in even though you've been a customer for longer than he has been the manager you have to start wondering how much he really values your patronage. It certainly doesn't inspire loyalty.
Contrast that without with the following two examples of the right way to do things.
A nightclub I started going to with a friend. They changed to an "ID always required" policy shortly after we started going (and without any warning). I did not have ID because I did not know it was going to be required so the bouncer said "ok, I'll let you in this time but make sure you bring it next time." I did make sure.
A pub I have been going to occasionally to see bands at for a few years requires a payment of £3 after 9:30pm. This is to keep out some of the crowd who come out of other pubs when they close (this one has a late licence). Recently the doorman only made me pay £1 because he "had to charge me something" but knew I was ok.
Those are examples of knowledgeable staff using intelligence and flexibility to reward loyalty. I wish the staff at the pub in Purley had been more like that.
