News / Cafes
Bristol cafe’s brilliant response to one-star review
The co-owner of a city centre cafe has responded magnificently to a one-star review left for his business online.
The review on Google for Full Court Press criticised the cafe for not allowing the customer inside while not wearing a face mask and for displaying a poster in the window supporting Black Lives Matter.
The A4 printout in the window of the Broad Street cafe of a design by artist Kim S Myers says ‘dismantle systemic racism’ with the #blacklivesmatter hashtag written underneath.
is needed now More than ever
On Google, user Tom Robson wrote: “Not allowed into shop as told wear a mask, I told the barista I was exempt, told us to sit outside. Sat outside and saw a big poster in the window support black lives matter!
“Barista came out I said no thanks I’m not supporting a Marxist, racist organisation, he said I wouldn’t serve you anyway!!”
Full Court Press on Broad Street currently only has outside seating – photo: Martin Booth
In response, Full Court Press co-owner Mat North replied with some considered prose.
He wrote: “Hi Tom, where to start… to begin with despite exemptions we ask those who choose not to wear masks to remain outside the shop. We do this to protect our staff who are not all fully vaccinated yet. To aid this we offer to come and take your order outside, providing you with considerate service and making sure we’re all safe.
“As for the poster, I’ll direct you to consider doing some more reading around the concepts of Marxism (I’d start with Das Kapital, which is a socioeconomic treatise on the ownership of the means of production and its effects) and racism as you are clearly mistaking them with current extreme ideologies from the right wing side of the political spectrum.
“As a shop we believe in such statements as ‘dismantle systemic racism’ as by its very nature systemic racism dehumanises and oppresses those of the BAME communities for the benefit of the predominantly white people that have held the power.
“Lastly, as with any service establishment we reserve the right to refuse entry and service providing it does not fall foul of laws regarding discrimination.”
Full Court Press’ drinks options now always include coffee roasted in their own micro-roastery – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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