"BOTTLE PARTIES"

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 26

"BOTTLE PARTIES"

NEW CLUBS IN LONDON

The growth of "bottle party" clubs in the West End of London, at which "invited" guests are debited with exorbitant prices for wine and spirits previously ordered from off-licence premises, is proving a serious handicap to reputable restaurants, says the "Daily Mail." During the past few months at least fifty of these clubs have sprung up in the West End, and the organisers are making money as fast as they- can before ''some" definite .legal ruling against their activities is found. As the "bottle" club system enables West End habitues to have drinks at almost any hour of the morning great dissatisfaction is being caused among restaurateurs. One famous restaurant chief said to a "Daily Mail" reporter: "Of late, the business of most of the big West End restaurants has suffered enormously from this competition. Several in fact have! closed. "A; restaurant in the West End pays anything from £400 to £2000 a year in licence duties, but it is allowed only one extension night a week—and that is not always easy to obtain. "On our last extension night guests left at 1 a.m., and on the same night three new 'bottle* clubs opened." Legally the licensee of the "bottle party" premises can take no share in the profits of the drinks supplied by the off-licence shop, but the general custom is for guests to; sign an acceptance of the "invitation" and pay "voluntarily" a sum towards the costs of the party. • ■ As much as 35s is charged for a t bottle of whisky. ' '; ' : ■