Having..
Become increasing annoyed at being the 'invisible' punter at the ‘Ritzy’ night club on Baldwin Street in Bristol – and getting even more narked at the young bar-man who seemed to only serve ladies, I reached a point of anger.

Now, the barman was clearly on, what I suppose you’d describe as a ‘power trip’ all these thirsty revellers and him with the power to serve and deny drinkers their refreshment opportunity.

I’ve been at the front of the queue (well, leaning on the bar) for a good fifteen minutes, yes, it was quite busy, but not that busy that it wouldn’t have been reasonable to expect service by this point. I’ve tried to get his attention countless times, and he knows I’m there – waiting – and he is deliberately avoiding me. Doing all he can to serve me last.

Eventually, one of the other punters – when asked what they’d like to drink – correctly (correctly if you following the ‘good bar punter act of 1995) points out that ‘Your man there has been waiting for ages, he’s before me’.

Now, I’ve not exchanged words so far with the barman, I’m not drunk and as far as I know, I’ve never insulted the barman in anyway – but, him suddenly announcing ‘right, I’m going to the gents this bar is closed for the next 5 minutes’ drove me ever so slightly over the edge.

Yeap, that’ll be me climbing over the bar, pouring my own pint and then trying to serve a couple of customers before laughing-boy gets back from the pisser.

That’ll also be me who was pulled (using a combination of hair and shirt-collar) over the bar by two big burley bouncers, it’ll also be me who got thrown down the stairs by the same goons, the same goons who wouldn’t then let me collect my coat, despite having the appropriate ticket – and the same goons who deliberately stepped on my spectacles and the very same goons who kicked me (several times) whilst lying on the floor. My request to see the duty manager to resolve this situation was also refused, having been told that ‘they look after the customer side of things’

The following day, having called the club to see if I could get my coat back (and subsequently arranging a time when I’d be able to come in and get it) – I arrive at said destination and bang on the door to see if I can get let it.

I can’t.

Eventually, the door opens and it’s one of the bouncers from the previous nights altercation. He says to me ‘wait there’ - 10 minutes later, my coat is thrown at me and I leave. It’s on my way home that I discover loads of little holes in my coat (looking like it was caused by a blade or a dart or something).

Anyway, I’ve had enough by now and I did something I’ve never done before or since. I got the police involved.

The police couldn’t have been nicer, going to the club to request CCTV and to get verbal statements from the staff involved.

Their version of events was that I was smashing the place up, going mental and being a pain in the ass. CCTV shows me hopping over a bar, pouring a pint and doing a bit of a silly dance. They also said I resisted apprehension and that’s why they were rough we me. CCTV shows me being dragged away and beaten – including kicks, punches and stamps whilst on the floor.

It really was quite a vicious attack.

A settlement figure was offered to me via a bloke I know - £300 for me to drop the charges – I accepted, thinking that it was a good deal, I’d be able to replace my coat and my glasses, and I wouldn’t need to go through the hassle of going to court.

Two days later, there is a knock at the door.

That’ll be me arrested and charged with ‘theft of alcohol (1 pint) from the bar’ and – annoyingly ‘theft of £300 from the club.’ This whole saga went on for about 6 months, before all charges were dropped (they had no evidence of the theft of cash and – apparently – it wasn’t worth prosecuting for the theft of a 99p pint (this was a number of year back)).

So that was pretty much the end of it – only it wasn’t – there are only a few companies in Bristol providing doormen to the pubs and clubs – effectively, I was barred from about a third of the late night venues in Bristol until there had been sufficient turn-over of staff and I’d started to grow facial hair for it all to be forgotten.

Nightclubs? RUBBISH.

Mullered.
(Apols for typos - I'm writing this whilst on the move)
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 17:09, 2 replies)

Jesus.
That's really quite twattish on their part.
(Big D, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 17:15, closed)

IMHO
you shouldve at least sought legal advice before just taking their measly £300 offer, seen what the odds of getting off lightly for the "theft of alcohol" charge would have been and having the bouncers / goons done for assault and battery ... :P
(zenmeban thinks the weather could be better, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 17:25, closed)