The guide book said it was a good bet so we found ourselves there at 6.30 on a Friday night. People in India eat late (a bit like Spain) so we were guaranteed a quiet start to the evening. Except that wasn’t the case. Joseph Bar was buzzing when we got there and I’m not talking about the wasp nest in the gents. There was already quite a lot going on and there was nowhere for us to sit. However, good news. We were offered a tiny bench facing the road (to the left of the woman in the photo). It appears there is no waiter service outside so off I trot to place a beer order. I order an English Ale from a scurrying employee and it arrives less than 20 minutes later. It’s very good and 5 minutes later I order another one of the same from the same bloke ( he was only outside for a fag break). I know this is my own fault I should have ordered 2 in the first place. It’s 6.55 now and he arrives with some lager, so not what I wanted but who cares. It was still 30 degrees. We take the opportunity to ask for some food. Can’t do that he says . Food starts at 7pm. 10 minutes later I ask for one of those very nice English Ales and he comes back with a stout. It’s still 30 degrees so needs must, so it is accepted and we try to order some food. Nothing we want on the menu is available. We ask why food is on but nothing we want is on and we are informed that only 3 items on the extensive menu are on at 7pm but the whole menu is available at 8pm. We decide to cut our losses and pay. Obviously I have to go inside to pay. I am informed that I owe them 950, 1050 and 1100 rupees and that they are cash only. I give them 3 500 rupees notes and I am informed they don’t have any change. I mean this is a cash only pub and everyone I can see is bladdered so I think they have a lot of change. Eventually I get 300 back after all the waiters have a whip-round.
