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Brixton news, rumour and general chat - December 2016

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If you're out and about: Christmas and New Year travel for Brixton – changes to bus, train and tube timetables
 
editor said:
More sad news - John Alton (who was a regular at the Albert) died last week. I got to know him as he did the accounts for a friend's company. Nice bloke. :(
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Sad to hear :(

I'm a bit confused as to whether I know who this guy is or not. I don't suppose you have a photo? If it's not appropriate don't worry. (There's quite a few guys called John I know from local pubs.)
 
Rushy said:
The law changes shortly/has changed to outlaw tied pubs being charged higher prices than open market so that should hopefully mean a significant increase in profit.

I think they can also buy more "outside" beers.
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Yes, this is good, I was vaguely aware of this. But can't the owners then just increase the rent?

I remember the legislation going through parliament and it getting watered down after lobbying from the pubcos. Memory is hazy though. Will have to check some old Private Eyes...
 
Brixton Hatter said:
Yes, this is good, I was vaguely aware of this. But can't the owners then just increase the rent?

I remember the legislation going through parliament and it getting watered down after lobbying from the pubcos. Memory is hazy though. Will have to check some old Private Eyes...
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Quite possibly. A friend of mine is going through it at the moment and he's still not sure what the outcome will be. Although his situation is more complicated with a landlord and a sub landlord ... or something.
 
Nasty looking accident on the corner of Brixton Hill and Acre Lane when I came through about 40 mins ago. Police tape round a 35 and a tarpaulin next to it :( All the emergency services were there in numbers.

If you're coming up by bus get off and walk before St Matthews Church as it's moving at a snails pace with that and CHL being closed.
 
Brixton Hatter said:
Sad to hear :(

I'm a bit confused as to whether I know who this guy is or not. I don't suppose you have a photo? If it's not appropriate don't worry. (There's quite a few guys called John I know from local pubs.)
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Was thinking the same. Maybe PM a photo ed if you have one.
 
snowy_again said:
He doesn't really say that though does he.

Longer article here, not just some tweet grabs that amount to most journalism: It’s time for restaurants to get rid of tips | Jay Rayner
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Also here

Next time you moan about the cost of a meal, think about who’s slaving in the kitchens | Jay Rayner

I basically agree with him, it would be better to just get rid of tips and pay people properly. He points out that Roux has reduced the hours his chefs are expected to work and he's defending him in that context.

All the same, it's not really on for Roux's restaurant to call something a "service charge" when it's not differentiated, in terms of where it goes, from the rest of the bill you pay. The common understanding is that it goes, in some form, directly to the staff, and people make their decision about whether to pay it on that basis. Jay Rayner's not actually said that what Roux's doing is OK in this regard but maybe he could have been a bit forthright in saying that it's not.
 
I hate the tipping culture in the UK. Tipping and bartering should be banned. It would be much easier if things just had an unmovable price tag and peoples' pay wasn't subsidised by tips.
 
SpamMisery said:
I hate the tipping culture in the UK. Tipping and bartering should be banned. It would be much easier if things just had an unmovable price tag and peoples' pay wasn't subsidised by tips.
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Without tips, already low-paid staff staff would get paid less because owners are very unlikely to suddenly get all philanthropic and pay them any more. It's a notoriously low paid industry, where tips can make a real difference for workers.

Unless they're being pocketed by rich owners of course:
Chef Michel Roux Jr yesterday admitted staff at his Michelin-starred restaurant do not receive a penny of the service charge added to bills.

It comes days after he apologised following revelations his chefs were being paid beneath the minimum wage.

When that controversy broke last month, a spokesman for Le Gavroche claimed that ‘all staff, front of house and kitchen, share in the 13 per cent discretionary service charge’.

But the former MasterChef judge has now confirmed that the Mayfair restaurant regards the charge as ‘revenue’ and keeps all of it.

The confession may not go down well with customers who already pay £212 each for the fixed price menu.

Michel Roux Jr admits he keeps all the tips at his £212-a-head restaurant | Daily Mail Online
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Earlier this week the chef described himself as ‘embarrassed and sorry’ that some chefs were receiving just £5.50 an hour for 68 hours’ work a week – less than the salary of a fast food worker.

The minimum wage is £7.20. Shifts at the restaurant, whose staff have included Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White and which currently has two Michelin stars, often began as early as 7am and did not end until 11.30pm, with only an hour off between lunch and dinner services and minimal breaks.
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