There's just no way to beat 'em, this is the reply I got to my protest to the Lord Nelson...

Dear Rick,

Understand your concerns however in modern battle we still find it necessary to dot our i’s and cross our t’s, After all Lord Nelson
would not have gone to sea without the comfort in his own mind of all on board turning up for the cause. Your lunch is no different.
We are in hospitality and cherish and respect return business, however when all at sea we must shore up and you and your fellow naval
personnel would understand that whether hungry or broke business like battle is serious. We have no intention of letting you down and
once again respect your return business however hospitality is our aim and this is de rigour and protocol. No offense was ever intended
and we apologise if we gave that impression, all other clientele are required to fulfil the same obligations in this modern world... Look
forward to hosting you again At The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel an Institution by all means..

Regards,

Blair R Hayden
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
Cnr Kent & Argyle St
The Rocks NSW 2000
P +61 2 9251 4044 | F +61 2 9251 1532

you've been praying - the lord has delivered
three sheets - old admiral & quayle ale
in 330ml bottles now available!

http://www.lordnelsonbrewery.com

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

I think the Lord Nelson respondent has ignored the "loyalty" aspect of fighting the battle. If those who help to fight the good fight are let down or not supported by those who require them to fight then there will be no victory or, in his parlance, no on-going business. Remember perception is reality. A Captain does indeed need the crew to be on-board. physically and emotionally, when going into battle, but when the Captain asks his crew for "that little bit extra" without offering them something in return, the battle will not be an overwhelming one. On return to port, the crew is unlikely to return to a ship with an "indifferent" Captain.
I think the Lord Nelson is managed by an indifferent Captain.
I reckon the crew should not return for the next battle.

That was a motion, Peter? I'll second it.

There are scores of eateries around the rocks that would love to have return business of 20 hungry mouths, even if it is only once per year.

I detest high-mindedness. (is that a word?)

Maybe he thinks he doesn't need the business so will dictate whatever terms best suit him.

Stuff him!

_________________
Gordon Robertson
ex-CPOETC
R42793
15th MOBI Intake
July63 to March74
Nirimba, Sydney III, Collingwood(UK), WSTG(UK), Lonsdale, Swan, Cerberus, Kuttabul, Harman, Kuttabul(RANTAU)

Perhaps we use the Lord Nelson this time, then inundate him with complaints (in Naval jargon) about the quality of .... whatever .......... service, food, cleanliness of toilets, price ........and indicate to him that we will no longer be ever visiting his pub for drinks or food and we will be advising all of our organisations (RSL....Men's Sheds...... Bowling Clubs etc etc) and we will be giving his pub a big miss for all future years ......

It's a pity there's no such thing as a mobile 'Harry's Cafe De Wheels', otherwise we could dial it up, get them to park on the nature strip opposite the Lord Nelson,
then all order a Harry's 'Pie 'n' Peas' (which most of us would have ordered at the Lord Nelson at 5 times the price anyway,) then park ourselves on the footpath outside the pub
to eat them...!

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

How about something like this? Feel free to add bits.


Dear sir,
It is interesting that you have responded to Mr. Rick Pengilly’s email with a Naval tone.
In keeping with that Naval tone, I wish to introduce an aspect which is at the heart of Naval convention and discipline……. That of Loyalty, and how you have ignored that very aspect in your response to him.
There are some similarities in old Naval custom and modern management/business practices ………. It is called repeat crews or, in modern parlance, (your parlance) repeat business.
In the old Naval days, loyalty would continue to refresh a ship’s company. Those who made it through the battle, or even just a lengthy difficult voyage, would return to the ship if it was under the command of the same Captain ….but ONLY if that Captain appreciated the loyalty of his crew. Those returning from a battle would encourage others to join the ship under that Captain.
In modern business talk…….. past customers would return and encourage others to join them.
Those dissatisfied sailors (for you ..read customers) would discuss life at sea under that Captain, and those perceptions would very definitely affect the quality and numbers of repeat crew or new crew. As of this moment there are many sailors who would NOT be recommending sailing in the dubious ship Lord nelson again, and indeed would be strongly suggesting this to their mates scattered across the immediate localities.
As perception is reality……the reality is that the Lord Nelson does not appreciate the loyalty of the present crews upon which its (now) dubious reputation is built.
If this perception is allowed to continue, the word will spread between old shipmates via RSLs, Mens’ Sheds, Men’s Health Peer Education Groups, Bowling Clubs etc etc, and the Commanding Officers of the Lord Nelson may well see a continuing “dip” in repeat crews (read repeat customers) or even new crews (read new customers).
Indeed, the word is that punitive measures have been introduced into the ship Lord Nelson due to recalcitrant renewal of crews.
It is a typical response to failing recruitment …….. try harsh measures, rather than working with those loyal sailors (customers). It didn’t work for the Royal Navy ……..why do you think it will work for you???

Perhaps we should just complete the lunch booking and cast our eye elsewhere for coming years. To sink the boot in prior to eating there is not such a great idea, yes?

I find the Lord Nelson a pain in the arse at the best of times, difficult to order, get drinks, and move around amongst the 'wonderful' set.

_________________

Chris O'Keefe
R43136
Ex WO Chippy
19th MOBI Intake
July 65 to July 85
HMAS Nirimba X 4 -Penguin-Sydney-Queenborough - Creswell - Moreton - Stalwart - Platypus - Coonawarra Reconstruction Team 76 - Platypus - Hobart - Cerberus - FHQ - Coonawarra.

Anyone can be ordinary. Shipwrights choose to be extraordinary!

Exactly, SeeJay, this is not the time to take them on for doing what every other pub in Sydney would no doubt love to be able to get away with...

Cast your mind over the immediate area surrounding the Lord Nelson... they're doing it because they can; there's no other reasonably priced alternative within coo-ee of the place...
...so unless you want to bring a cut lunch, or order a kerb-side pizza delivery, (not to mention scratching the Lord Nelson off the pub crawl list,) we have to bite the bullet, for this year at least...

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

This is a TRUE First World Problem!!

_________________
Steve Johns
R110510
Ex POETS
31st MOBI Intake
July 71 to July 81
Nirimba, Kuttabul, WRE, Kuttabul, WRE, Kuttabul, Parramatta, WRE, Yarra, Stalwart, Derwent.
_______________________________________

Surely there are a few other places which serve lunch. Perhaps all we need to do is re-arrange the flow to end up in another pub at lunchtime. Anyway ....lets take notes during this run, and see what comes up.
Apparently, the Hero of Waterloo does lunches.