On 25 Aug 2015 at 5:17pm Big Bills no Heart. wrote:
According to the Evening Standard, Bills adds over 12% to your bill and rather than giving to their staff who earn on average only £ 7 per hour, they trouser the lot.Bills is owned by an off shore fund and made 7.7 million profit last year.Come on Lewesians,you know what to do!
On 25 Aug 2015 at 5:53pm Old Bike wrote:
That reminds me of Elton John's call to boycott Dolce and Gabbana.
On 25 Aug 2015 at 5:54pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I've been boycotting Bill's since it stopped being a greengrocer's.
On 25 Aug 2015 at 5:58pm Billbo Boycott wrote:
Bills so called service charge only services Bills owner`s bank accounts.
On 25 Aug 2015 at 7:25pm Ben wrote:
That's not good. It's rubbish how some companies treat their employees, such as Amazon (aside from their dodgy tax-evasion). I stopped going to Bill's a few years ago when it was franchised and the quality and quantity of the food seemed to go downhill. Bill had a good idea, but some found it a bit pricey and foodie fashion orientated. I think it was worth it when the quality justified the cost, but no, it's not right that the employees are not paid fairly. I imagine the same applies to other non-independent coffee shops in town, a bit much considering how rude I've seen some customers be to the serving staff etc.
On 25 Aug 2015 at 8:15pm The Old Mayor wrote:
Every bubble bursts !! Eventually.
On 25 Aug 2015 at 8:22pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
I've stopped using Caffe Nero since I learned that they don't pay their taxes. Also, Pizza Express don't pass the full tips to their staff if you pay by card. Companies won't change their behaviour unless they believe that they're losing sales.
On 25 Aug 2015 at 11:48pm Local wrote:
Wasn't it his wife's idea?
On 26 Aug 2015 at 12:57am polished peppers wrote:
The Ovens did the best bacon sandwiches - sick of navigating the 4x4s and diners getting past Bills....much in the same way the Riverside traders block access to Cliffe Bridge with their signs..........
On 26 Aug 2015 at 7:10am pedantic micro manager wrote:
Sorry Annette but I have to highlight your use of the greengrocer's apostrophe. Though you may have used it in an ironic sense, in which case I apologize.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 8:47am Moaning myrtle wrote:
I too have boycotted Bills since its ceased being a grrengrocer! Its now just an overpriced hang out for all the DFL's! Hate the way the staff were spoken to as well, abuse was nearer the mark! Horrible place.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 9:38am trooper wrote:
Ref BILLS the words plague and avoid come to mind.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 9:59am ClicketyYak wrote:
I remember The Ovens - could get takeaway lasagne. Sounds terrible but was delicious.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 10:11am Mavis wrote:
I have to admit we've been to several different Bills, and I have to say Lewes is actually the worst ! Communal tables, Yuk ! Rude staff, more Yuk ! Customers with attitude, even more Yuk !!
On 26 Aug 2015 at 10:35am Clifford wrote:
"Bills adds over 12% to your bill and rather than giving to their staff who earn on average only £ 7 per hour, they trouser the lot."
Is that actually true? I don't remember seeing a service charge there, and wonder why they would have such long-standing staff working there if they are so awful. And really, this "I hate Bill's more than thou" thing is a bit juvenile isn't it?
On 26 Aug 2015 at 10:47am ar10642 wrote:
Has anyone else noticed that the older people get, the better things used to be? If Bills was still a traditional greengrocers I doubt it would still be in business.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 12:23pm Ex employee wrote:
Only branches in London add the 12.5% service charge, which seems to be customary in London. Any tips paid in cash at Bills in Lewes go directly to the waiter/waitress. Any tips left on card go to the company, who apparantly divide the pot between all members of staff and add it to their base salary (based on how many hours they did that week). The theory being that instead of earning £6.50 an hour (minimum wage), staff could earn in excess of this. That being said, I never experienced anything more than £6.51-£6.53 an hour. This would explain why waiters/waitresses will normally hand you the card machine without the option to leave any gratuity, so long as they have already filled the quota for their daily card tips.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 1:36pm DFL wrote:
I like Bills Lewes because I save 12.5%. Makes up for having to commute.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 3:12pm bastian wrote:
I used to love the macaroni cheese at the ovens, brilliant!
On 26 Aug 2015 at 3:46pm newspeak wrote:
PMM - I have to object to your use of the American 'apologize' . Unless you are American, in which case please conform to British English spellings in future
On 26 Aug 2015 at 3:54pm No brainer wrote:
I never tip on a card , if i pay by card I tip in cash , simples
On 26 Aug 2015 at 6:33pm Mike wrote:
Have you small town people not got anything better to do? Pathetic. You should all be proud that Bills started in your little tiny town. And has helped many businesses grow massively since they started to expand. I used to work for bills and it was a good company who don't pocket the left overs. But really guys a server may get £7 per hour but do you think a qualified chef will get that. No they will get paid more which is where the rest goes.
Some of you need to get a hobby!!
On 26 Aug 2015 at 6:40pm pmm to newspeak wrote:
Fair point, damn this laptop and burn in hell Bill Gates with your windows spell check, I must admit I had an inkling it was wrong and should have checked with the online Oxford dictionary.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 6:45pm Old Bike wrote:
Mmmm.....not sure about 'inkling', that sounds American too. Prolly originated in Cally.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 7:17pm once bitten wrote:
over priced sh!te
On 26 Aug 2015 at 8:11pm little wren wrote:
Used to love going in to the real Bills and just staring at the cakes, they were magnificent and the food was delicious and well priced. Haven't been in there for over two years now and I pass it every day. Not since I had a cream tea and had to ask, for a knife, then a napkin and then the bill three times. I was only one of a dozen people in there, really quiet. I suppose I shouldn't have had a cream tea but if was supposed to be a quiet treat.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 10:03pm Billy Coliwabble wrote:
The Ovens was the mother of Bills.
On 26 Aug 2015 at 10:21pm More pedantic still wrote:
The OED will tell you either S or Z is acceptable. Oxford University Press require you to use a Z in 'apologize' so don't apologise.
On 27 Aug 2015 at 7:33am B*lly wrote:
The original owner (Bill) even before it became a restaurant and was still a greengrocer, used to stand in the street shouting abuse at his workers. Not very nice for the staff and very embarrassing to witness.
On 27 Aug 2015 at 8:37am carmen wrote:
The Ovens did serve the nicest takeaway lasagne and was my toddlers only takeaway food he would eat, then it closed down and I sadly do not have the funds to eat in bills even if I would wish to
On 27 Aug 2015 at 10:06am HeathClifford wrote:
The stolen tip story reported in the Times today and no denial on Bill's website... What a shame for those of us who who liked Bill, and Bill's, and went there regularly.
I suppose what we need is a Labour government that is electable and can right these wrongs.
On 27 Aug 2015 at 10:37am B*lly wrote:
B*lly for Bill or is it the other way around.
On 27 Aug 2015 at 10:13pm Q wrote:
Fish pie and cottage pie at the ovens!!! With all the votes on here it seems the ovens could have become a very popular food outlet chain.
On 29 Aug 2015 at 9:45am ar10642 wrote:
The Ovens are no longer in business. Bills has become a national chain. I probably won't come to you lot for business advice ta.