I rarely manage to eat out, my stomach is rarely hungry and when it is I tend to just want something light so when a few nights ago my tummy was actually rumbling I decided to treat myself to some good old Fish and Chips at a Harry Ramsdens.
It was fairly busy when I got there however there was a full section they had closed off, 3 large tables for 6 people 2 booths for 4 people, 1 table for 3 and several tables for 2 that I could see (there was a section I could not see from where I stood).
The waitress took me to the middle of the room and pointed at a table that had people passing on both sides, now to the average person this may sound insane but to me the tables were not suitable at all!
Let me explain, you see I struggle with people passing too close to me because of my claustrophobia, when they do get too close I end up pulling away and god help me if people pass on both sides. It's not a nice experience for me and removes the enjoyment of the meal when I am so focused on the people passing.
Then there is my dizziness that can also strike worse when there is too much movement on both sides or the fear that someone might catch me as they pass. My Fibro in my arms and legs is so bad it hurts a lot and people banging into me really does hurt.
As a result I like to sit at a table that is open enough that I don't need to worry about my claustrophobia but something like a booth, where I can scoot in a little and bingo no worry about people passing and hitting me or getting to close, even when they pass they are at a sensible distance. No anxiety! I can eat!
I stood in the middle of the restaurant and politely asked if there was a different table, perhaps I could have a booth? Or one of the doubles against the wall. She told me no I had to take that table of the one behind it.
I was feeling a little uncomfortable at that point, I don't like to point out my illnesses, it's not a card I want to hold up and say hey treat me differently but when I have to I do end up explaining politely why I am asking but I find it very embarrassing.
The girl stood there still and said you can't take any of those tables because someone might come in that needs them. At this point I started to feel discriminated against for two reasons! 1 because I was a solo diner and 2 because she was not helping accommodate my illnesses.
Now I can understand them needing booths during peak times, however there was 3 tables of 6 that they could bump a family of 4 onto, a section they had closed they could spill into if a coach party suddenly materialised. Surely a customer solo or a family should be entitled to sit somewhere that they are comfortable with? Anyone's money is as good as someone else's at the end of the day!
A lot of people were now staring at me at this point, I said to the lady I am sorry but neither of these are suitable, can I not take that double over there? This was my biggest issue here, there was a double further back that was on the side and against the wall, I would have been alright there. She told me no it was either of those or non at all.
Standing there feeling mortified, people staring and having opened up about my illnesses and odd requirements that I feel so ashamed of I simply shook my head and said then I will have to go and eat elsewhere, you are being so unreasonable, I do not see why I can not take one of the doubles down there!
This is where the corker came, she informed me they had a take away next door! I could eat and walk! Gee thanks, I just told you I need to sit, yes that's a suitable option my brain yelled! In reality I politely informed her that was not a suitable option for me!
Suddenly she relented and offered me a triple table behind a barrier that was next to the kitchens - yes instead of a lovely view of the sea front I got to look at the kitchens, however I took the table because I could at least eat.
I sat down and felt thoroughly discriminated against, why am I not a valuable customer? Why should I have to degrade myself begging and explaining everything just to get a suitable table?
Should it be legal to enforce single people into the least desirable tables purely because they are spending a single bill? I mean at the end of the day, I ate a main meal, 2 drinks and a desert. This came to the same price almost as if 2 customers and a child had a main course. So the idea that it's monetary does not always add up!
I actually got a really sweet waitress who came over and had a quiet word with me about what was wrong with my seating, she had seen how long I was stood with the girl placing me. I told her what had happened and she sent the manager over. While he stood and said sorry I did not feel anything was addressed.
Have you ever felt discriminated against anywhere because of something? How do you address it? How does it make you feel?
I was so embarrassed, I felt like I had to lay myself bare to just be allowed to sit down. Safe to say I will never be eating in there again no matter how nice the food was!
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