The Lacehouse - Cocktail Bar Nottingham

I worked an 8.5 hour unpaid trial shift. Prior to working the shift no information was negotiated on how long I was expected to work, what to wear etc. Myself and 2 new girls had training from a girl who had worked there for a week at that point. I was placed on the cocktail bar and expected to make 14 cocktails for people (in a champagne flute) with no experience in making cocktails and no one demonstrating what I should be doing. Behind the scenes were filthy, the three of us were expected to clean down stairs and upstairs which were literally grim. There was grime around everything, and the sinks downstairs behind the bar looked as though they had never ever been cleaned. While we were working, there was no supervisor or additional member of staff supporting the 4 of us who had little knowledge of the premises, yet alone how to run the operations. Meanwhile, management sat having a 'meeting' on the main floor with cocktails not even caring what we did. The toilets were disgusting as staff aren't required to clean them, I don't even think the bathtub gets cleaned ever. One of the girls who had a trial shift cut their faces open and the business did not even have a legal 'First Aid Book' instead it was a diary from what looked like Wilko with just a name and address in it. Before the end of our shift, we were all told we would hear off the management as to whether we had the job, then they all left and went home. We were all expected to lock the premises at the end of the night, and did not receive a break on the shift, given the hours we worked. I know of at least 5 people I have met at university who have had a trial shift here which again is unpaid, and a similar experience to mine. The Lacehouse always advertise available job vacancies and I believe it's as they 'interview people', then get them in for a long trial shift, and say they will get back to them. Therefore, they aren't paying staff. Overall, I don't advise visiting. They use social media influencers to advertise the business, yet fail to actually run it legally.
Apr 26th, 2023

Absolutely vile! Pizza was awful! Service was so so poor. Not table service which you think it would be for bottomless brunch! The toilets are disgusting, there so dirty, no toilet seats poo and sick in all the toilets bar one. No hand soap. The place is so dirty and run down. Do not waste your money, so dirty and sort a poor service!
Apr 18th, 2023

Thank you Rob, a brilliant friendly person that was a one man band and held it together perfectly!! 10/10 we will see you soon, thank you
Apr 3rd, 2023

My husband and I visited from Somerset and booked a table for brunch for my birthday, we were slightly skeptical when they had called us at 10pm and 5/6am to tell us they had to push the booking back a few hours. When we turned up and realized 1 man had been left to cook pizzas, make cocktails and do table service all on his own, coming from a hospitality background, we could completely empathize. This man deserves a medal. 5 stars simply because of the manager Rob. After clearly experiencing a staffing problem he ran that place single handedly when most places would have closed. I can not compliment this lovely Geordie man enough, I hope that they finally find the right bar team to back him up because he's a legend. Stuff happens, nothings ever perfect but how Rob dealt with the situation earns him 5 stars.
Mar 21st, 2023

Place is nice bit dark. Had food which was good but took nearly an hour to arrive
Dec 23rd, 2022