Tuesday 10 January 2012
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Pen pals still going strong after 60 years Page 8
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2012
12-13
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Dine ‘n’ Summer is... Dashers hurt bars Andrew Board Some Nelson bars and restaurants have been forced to hold customers drivers licences as security after losing thousands of dollars to “dine ‘n’ dashers”. The term is used to explain those who order drinks and food on a tab before running out on the bill. Speight’s Ale House co-owner Gareth Caldwell says his restaurant, open for less than a month, has started holding either a credit card or drivers licence before opening a tab for customers who want to sit outside. “I didn’t expect that sort of thing when we opened in Nelson,” he says. “We’ve had about $2000 worth of bills walk out the door. One family we saw on the security tape was pretty blatant about it; they looked around to see where the staff were and then walked straight out through the garden bar.” But more established bar and restaurant owners say they also enforce the credit card rule after being burnt themselves. Ian Williams, owner of the Vic Brew Bar, formerly the Victorian Rose, says he has been doing the practice since his family took over the business. “We hold credit cards for people sitting outside, it has been a problem for us in the past but this year has been better than last year. We’ve only had one [dasher] that I can remember.” Other bars and restaurants spoken to by Nelson Weekly also hold credit cards or drivers licences for food tabs, especially for those sitting in outdoor areas. Gareth says most customers understand when asked for the security. “Some get a bit upset but the reality is we can’t continue to lose that sort of money.”
...up and away Joey Scott, 11, has been making a splash these school holidays as one of thousands of students hitting the pool for the summer break. Joey, a Nayland Primary student, visited Nayland Park Pool with his older
brother Sean, 16, and their father. Sean, a Nelson College student, says he had spent the majority of his school holidays at the swimming complex “dominating the [diving] boards,” and with Nelson finally turning on the sun-
shine and some heat, it was the best place to spend the holidays, he says. Nayland Pools manager Dave McKenzie says the pools have been extremely busy on sunny days. Photo: Phillip Rollo
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