I popped in to this newly-opened restaurant in Bryanston to enquire whether they have a liquor licence. They don't. I was told I could bring my own bottle of wine but would be charged corkage.
Both the Restaurant Association of South Africa and Leon Botha, a specialist in South African liquor laws, confirmed to me that unlicensed establishments may not charge corkage fees.
The owner of the Petit Fours restaurant franchise, Mrs Magda van Wyk (tel. 011 782 1778), did not respond to a telephone message so I phoned again 24 hours later. Mrs van Wyk's daughter answered the phone. In summary, she said she didn't care what the law was, they were charging a corkage fee of R25 per bottle.
During the conversation she presented three options to me.
1. I could have a cooldrink instead of wine.
2. If I wanted to bring wine but wouldn't pay corkage, I'd have to sit on a bench outside the restaurant to drink it.
3. If I didn't like her approach, I could stay away from Petit Fours in Bryanston.
HOW'S THAT FOR BUILDING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS???
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