A restaurant delivered a brilliantly sassy response to a customer who complained about a waitress singing as they went about their duties clearing tables and delivering food.
The Fountain Inn in Pontarddulais is a family-operated business providing rooms and meals but the owners were left baffled when a customer left a negative review complaining of having to "suffer" listening to a member of staff sing.
Priding themselves on an enjoyable experience for customers and having cheerful staff, managers at the inn defended the musical rendition from their staff, arguing it was not a dismissible offence for being happy, and sarcastically suggesting to the diner to alert them to the singing in future - so they did not have to suffer the happiness of workers.
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The complaint came from a user by the name of "Jevs" who visited on March 18 and complained: "Often visit this establishment, the food, environment is really good, but on the last visit 18th March, we had to suffer listening to a member of staff singing (quite loudly) along to the music! It was really off putting and very annoying!".
Sharing the complaint on its social media page, The Fountain Inn replied: "Dear Jevs - We are sorry to hear that you didn't fully enjoy your visit with us on the 18th March, despite the food and environment being really good. At the Fountain Inn we always try to provide our customers with an enjoyable experience and are often complimented for our cheerful and attentive staff.
"Following your concern we have contacted our HR department but unfortunately staff being happy in their work place & expressing this through singing is not a dismissible offence. However, upon your recommendation, we have advised the particular staff member in question that they may wish to withdraw from their upcoming audition for The Voice on the BBC.
"We hope that you will still visit to enjoy our food and establishment in the future and please feel free to tell any annoying staff members to refrain from singing so that you don't suffer from their happiness in future. Kind regards, Team Fountain Inn
Puzzled by the feedback, manager David Charles said staff were often complimented on their cheerful moods and "lovely singing".
"It's a sign of happiness and we pride ourselves on a good atmosphere and we all feed off each other, I would never take time out of my day to complain about someone being joyful. I couldn't wrap my head around it. My wife usually has customers admire her singing. Our staff all enjoy their work and care about their jobs. It has been a difficult couple of months with all the doom and gloom around Covid and it is nice to come to a place where people can enjoy and escape" he said.
The Inn wanted to share the feedback as an attempt to encourage customers to be more mindful of the difficulties surrounding the hospitality industry. You can read about a hotel in Gower that's struggling to get staff after the pandemic - here.
"We get some wonderful customers but understandably some customers do complain about the smallest of things" added David.
The pub's brilliant response has been adored by regular fans of the restaurant who have even suggested installing big red voting buttons on the tables for future customers to have their own say on the "acts". Most disagreed with the feedback, arguing that the singer in question was "always in tune" and praised the happiness and environment of the restaurant.
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