Pub landlady’s brutal replies to negative reviews cause stir with customers
A PUB landlady’s caustic comebacks to complaints are causing a commotion among customers.
Jo Thirkell regularly replies to any poor reviews online with a string of sarcastic slights.
The married 49-year-old even has a sign up behind the bar at The Gables stating: “Zero f***s given.”
Her rants have divided opinion, with some reckoning she has “terrible manners, and rude and disrespectful staff”.
But other customers at the Middlesbrough boozer love her no-nonsense approach to moaners.
She responded to one Tripadvisor complaint about her home-made goulash by saying: “It makes me happy that idiots are still allowed to make their own decisions not to return. See you again soon, not.”
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Another customer was branded a “petulant spoilt brat” and a family with kids were told: “We are not a childcare centre.”
Another who moaned was told: “Don’t throw your toys out of the pram.”
Jo also told a woman who left a bad review: “Shut up you blinking idiot.”
Others find her forthright views refreshing, with one commenting: “You are fantastic, love the banter.”
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One customer said that while he was in the pub, Jo had “turned into Peggy Mitchell and started screaming ‘get out of my pub’.”
He added: “It was a right laugh, will be back again next Tuesday.”
The mum of three, who has run the pub with husband Mark for nine years, said of moaners: “They get both barrels and they deserve it. This attitude started after lockdown.
“I decided I wasn’t going to sit quietly and take the abuse. I don’t suffer fools. I stand by every word I’ve put on the Tripadvisor replies.
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“I don’t care what the moaners think, we have wonderful customers who come here to enjoy home cooked food and friendly atmosphere.
Everyone is welcome — but if they decide to dish it out, they’ll get it straight back.”