Restaurant brands hen party ‘chav trash’

A bride-to-be was left stunned after a restaurant branded guests at her hen party “the bottom of the barrel” who wouldn’t know fine dining “if it slapped them in their ugly faces” in response to an online review.

47 King Street West in Manchester

Melissa Grogan-Morgan celebrated her upcoming nuptials at the 47 King Street West restaurant in Manchester and posted a review of her experience on Facebook noting that while the “food was fab”, she was disappointed that the 18-strong group had been seated on separate tables, despite giving the restaurant “plenty of notice”. She also said that fresh starters could not be arranged for friends who had arrived late and that the manager has a “terrible attitude”.

The restaurant however was clearly not in the mood for criticism and responded to the comments online with a spectacular stream of derogatory comments about the group which opened by calling the group the “chaviest most vile people ever to grace our restaurant”. But it didn’t stop there. The restaurant continued to call the group “absolute trash” that wouldn’t know fine dining “if it slapped them in their ugly faces”.

In response to their claims about a lack of fresh starters, the restaurant said some members of the party had turned up one hour and 10 minutes late expecting fresh starters, to which the restaurant responded “are you having a laugh?” The restaurant’s tirade continued further, calling the group “peasants wanting something off the bill as usual!”.

Credit: Facebook / 47 King Street West

The group were also berated online for “conveniently” ignoring the no confetti policy at the restaurant, according to comments posted by its Facebook page “so every guest after them had to suffer their trash! #nomorecheaphenparties.”

The restaurant claimed that the group were more than an hour late for the 10-person booking with 20 turning up, despite the hen party insisting they had been informed.

Grogan-Morgan, a customer service manager from Stoke, was joined by her mum, future mother-in-law and a friend’s 12-year-old niece at the event on Saturday night.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Grogan-Morgan said she was in “complete disbelief” at how “rude and arrogant” the comments had been.

“It’s absolutely shocking customer service – if I’d have treated a customer like that at work I’d have been sacked. I can’t imagine talking to anyone like that never mind a paying customer. We spent a lot of money were them only to receive a flood of abuse.”

Credit: Facebook / 47 King Street West

Lynsey Herron, who organised the hen do, defended the group explaining that they were not “rowdy or carrying inflatable willies and blow-up dolls.”

“We were treated with disdain and aggression the moment we got through the door but nothing could have prepared us for these messages”, she added.

The incident has sparked a furious backlash on social media with the vast majority appearing to be on the side of the bride.

One user posting to the restaurant’s Facebook page said: “I think this restaurant has destroyed its reputation alone. I would never wish to dine in a “fine restaurant” who takes £600 of a customers money, yet has not the dignity to take a bad review. If they didn’t want Hen parties they should have declined the booking, not act like spoilt children with ugly comments trying to sound better than their customers. How dare somebody call a bridal party vile & chav its slander if this was the States they would be going to court!”

Another wrote: “That hen party should be compensated for your disgusting comments! How can you take their money and then publicly humiliate them? I think it’s poetic the backlash your judgemental, rude and unwelcoming restaurant is now receiving. Wonder how long it’s going to stay open.”

However a few were in support of the restaurant with one user commenting: “Good work, stand up for yourselves! Don’t accept any more hen’s parties – hen’s nights are the worst people to deal with. Shrill squeals and unimaginative cocktail orders. Shudder.”

The restaurant, which opened in 2011, is described on its website as a fine dining restaurant serving “exquisite” French and british cuisine” and has not yet responded to criticism online.

Do you feel the restaurant was right to post the comments in response to a bad review? Leave a comment below.