Four customers who asked for Coca-Cola from bar owner John Bittles were told to leave the bar immediately after their request.
In yet another incident that’s drawn significant attention, John Bittles, the famously uncompromising owner of Bittles Bar in Belfast, has once again made headlines.
This time, it’s for showing four patrons the door. Their offence was the choice of Coca-Cola over the traditional Guinness.
In an interview conducted for our YouTube channel (you’ll find the video at the article), I spoke with John about the state of his business and his reputation for strict patron selection based on their drink choices. He shared the full story behind this latest headline-grabbing encounter.
Opting for Cola Over Beer – a bold move in Bittles Bar
Bittles, a local character in his own right, recounted the bubbly debacle with a mixture of disbelief and good humour.
He suspected the request for four Cokes was a calculated gambit – a “setup” – leading to the judge, jury and executioner of this pub to say to the group, “No can do, out the door you go!”
John says everything with good humour and a smile on his face. When I suggested an alternative reality – maybe these guys were just out of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) – John vigorously said they weren’t. They were not drinkers, he claimed, “they were just looking for a reaction.”
Fanta Drinker Ejected Also – no soft drinks are safe
John also explained that in the same drink, a customer of the pub asked for a coke and a Fanta. John replied, “Do you think that is funny!?” the customer laughed, and John said, “You know what you can do, you can f**k off!”
John’s distaste for diluting his drink lineup with soft drinks is well-known; his previous encounters with soft drinkers have solidified his reputation as Belfast’s Most Notorious Barman.
Business is Booming – despite the controversial encounters with customers
Despite the encounters with customers, John revealed that business is booming at Bittles Bar. In a week devoid of the usual necessities of a city centre pub (no food, sports, live music), Bittles Bar still managed to sell an impressive 35 kegs of Guinness. This feat underlines the pub’s magnetic pull, drawing in patrons for its atmosphere as much as its ale.
Watch the full interview – see the video below
You can watch the full interview with John Bittles below:
