A kind-hearted Wetherspoon punter bought an elderly customer two pints of lager after he struggled to order a beer because he didn’t have the app to place his order.
Mark Farrier said he felt compelled to help the ‘old fella’, 79, after watching him sitting alone at an empty table at the pub in Cardiff on Monday.
The 39-year-old father-of-three said the ‘old boy’, who had dressed up and polished his shoes for the outing, was unable to be served without the app until Mr Farrier used his own phone.
Mark Farrier said he felt compelled to help the ‘old fella’, 79, (pictured) after watching him sitting alone at an empty table at the pub in Cardiff on Monday
A moving picture shows the elderly gentleman sat alone in the bar in his smart jacket and polished shoes – finally with two cold lagers.
Mr Farrier, a thermal insulation engineer, shared the image on social media, where he was praised for his act of kindness, with others accusing pubs of ‘forgetting’ elderly people.
Wetherspoons applauded his generosity but insisted staff had not ‘ignored’ the man and people can still order via staff.
Mr Farrier, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, said: ‘I just felt a bit sorry for him. He looked like he needed a bit of company.
‘He looked like he’d polished his shoes and got a little bit dressed up. He said he’d been sitting in the house on his own.
‘I could see him trying to get the attention of the waiter and he just flew past him a few times. He was just trying to get their attention and they were just bombing past.’
The 39-year-old father-of-three (pictured) said the ‘old boy’, who had dressed up and polished his shoes for the outing, was unable to be served without the app until Mr Farrier used his own phone
Mr Farrier said he shared the picture of the old man to encourage others to help elderly people
Mr Farrier said he waited for five minutes before buying the man two pints.
‘I just posted to raise awareness and to help people out,’ he said. ‘A lot of elderly people will be in this position this week.
‘All I did was buy him a pint. He couldn’t use the app so I bought him a pint. Most people should be doing that.’
Mr Farrier has urged others to keep an eye out for the elderly over the coming weeks as those without smartphones may struggle to use technology in certain pubs and restaurants.
‘The staff were really nice and polite,’ he said. ‘When I confronted them, they apologised and said there’s only one person doing table service.’
On social media, people expressed their sadness at seeing the pensioner on his own without a drink, while others thanked Mr Farrier for helping the man out.
Eddie Gilhooley: ‘Well done guys. Apps do nothing for good old fashioned customer service.’
Alan Daly said: ‘Nice gesture. Well done.’
On social media, people expressed their sadness at seeing the pensioner on his own without a drink, while others thanked Mr Farrier for helping the man out
Michele J. said: ‘Thank you for sharing. It annoys and upsets me when businesses forget that not all people – especially the more mature of our country – don’t own computers/smart phones/ tablets (47% over 65).
‘They should not be excluded from our society just because it’s easier for businesses to operate that way. I commend you Mark and your friends for making this gentleman feel included.’
Keith Foster said: ‘We owe our past to people like him who are now marginalised and ignored.’
Wetherspoons have now applauded Mark for his ‘lovely gesture’ and explained that customers should be able to pay with staff, as well as using the app.
Wetherspoons said: ‘At present, as a result of Covid restrictions, customers can’t order at the bar.
‘Instead our pubs across the UK allow customers to pay and order with a member of staff as well as using the Wetherspoon app.
‘We are not sure why this individual customer was not served, but we can guarantee that he was not ignored by staff.
‘It was a lovely gesture of the fellow customer to intervene and buy him a couple of pints. We salute him for doing this.’