Meanies
nycmstar mentioned bad tippers. I nominate the members of Lloyds Luncheon Club for the award of all time penny pinching mean frigging bastards.

LLC was (as the name suggests), a small luncheon club for ‘Names’ at Lloyds, i.e. very rich underwriters with vast personal fortunes. It was set up by, reputedly, an ex-good time girl who used to provide services to many of them until she saved enough to open the club. The staff were a good lot, two on the bar, me and head barman, few waiting staff, wine waiter, few kitchen staff, ‘hostess’ and manageress, 12 in all. Food was pure nursery/boarding school food, which went down a treat. Drinks were all doubles, most members had a couple before lunch, a couple of bottles with lunch, a couple of brandies, then back to Lloyds to insure ships and whatnot. Most came two or three times a week.

It was a private members club and there was no cash. Tips were really rare, the odd guest buying fags, the odd drunk member needing a cab hailing.

At last, Christmas came round and a list was pinned up in the bar for members to put down how much of a Christmas box they were giving to the staff, remember a staff of 12. Remember, most came around 100+ times per year. I think the biggest tip was £20, most put down £10 or £15. I won’t tell you what went into their spotted dick that week.

Still, I could tell people that I used to work at Lloyds in the City (lies on c.v.). Also, I got a taste for Armagnac working there – nectar of the gods, I’d smuggle it out in ginger ale bottles stuffed down my pants.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Fri 21 Jul 2006, 16:43, Reply)