‘Hipster’ bar gets own back on one star reviewer

A UK restaurant has gotten its revenge on a guest who left a one-star review on TripAdvisor by introducing a cocktail named in his honour – The Ponce’s Dungarees.

Owner Ben Gatt. Credit: The Old Butcher’s, Facebook

The complainant, known only as “Wayne S”, wrote the review following a visit to the Old Butcher’s in Bristol, sharing his view that the venue, housed in a former butcher’s shop, felt neither like a restaurant or a bar and served “poncey” 2/3 glasses of beer.

He went on to criticise the owner’s appearance, telling TripAdvisor readers: “The owner struts about in dungarees, and if he has the chance to check his reflection he damn well makes sure he does. Would I eat there? Never, only has crab on the menu anyway!? Would I drink there? Never. Would I recommend it? Only those who want to be soooo hip (like the owner thinks he is) that they want to watch the traffic go by in this rather grey and drab area of town.”

Rather than ignoring the negative review, the restaurant fought back, launching a cocktail-based comeback, naming a new serve in Wayne’s honour and giving others a masterclass in how to turn a negative review into positive publicity.

Posting on Facebook, the restaurant said: “Wayne’s inspiring words have won him a place on our menu; congratulations Wayne! We are therefore proud to introduce our new cocktail, for a limited time only, ‘The Ponce’s Dungarees’! We hope to see you soon in our grey and drab area of town.”

Perhaps a mark of its distaste for Wayne’s comments, the Ponce’s Dungarees is a dubious blend of white wine, rosé, vodka, Bols Blue liqueur and gomme syrup.

Social media users praised the bar’s response, with one user posting: “Best thing I’ve read all day! Definitely gonna pop in one day with my dungarees in solidarity, and get me a poncey cocktail.”