London Tourist's Sticker Shock Over £18.50 Camembert Starter
London's reputation for high prices and expensive dining venues is well-established, but one tourist experienced a particularly jarring example of this firsthand. Amy Hilton, a 26-year-old from Kent, visited The Devonshire pub in Balham, London, on February 8 with friends, ordering a Camembert starter to share. The dish cost a staggering £18.50, leaving her expecting a premium culinary experience.
The Unwrapping Revelation
However, Amy's expectations were quickly dashed when she inspected the wrapper around the cheese. To her astonishment, she discovered it was Cricket St Thomas British Camembert, a product readily available at Tesco supermarkets for just £2.75. This marked-up price of over 570% left her feeling cheated and disappointed.
'That was the worst starter we have ever had,' Amy stated emphatically. 'I would never ever order it again.' She elaborated on the subpar quality, noting: 'The bread was a cut-up burger bun too, not the sourdough they state in the menu and the chutney was gross.' Her frustration was palpable as she added, 'Not another daylight robbery, at least cover it up.'
Pub's Defence and Customer Backlash
When Amy pointed out the wrapper to staff at the pub, she claimed they responded with indifference. 'We mentioned it to the staff but they shrugged their shoulders and kind of laughed,' she recounted. She also criticised the main meals, describing them as cold and flavourless.
In response, a spokesperson for The Devonshire pub defended their choice, explaining: 'Young's is proud to source British produce, and this camembert comes from a Somerset-based producer that serves a variety of customers, including supermarkets.' They justified the pricing by highlighting the differences between retail and hospitality models, citing factors such as:
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Food preparation and cooking
- Table service and staffing
- The premium pub environment and atmosphere
The spokesperson concluded: 'We're committed to delivering a high-quality experience and value all guest feedback.'
Wider Context of London's Dining Scene
This incident is not an isolated case in London's competitive food scene. For instance, Otto's French Restaurant in Bloomsbury offers a burger priced at £350, showcasing how extreme mark-ups can be. The establishment promotes itself as offering 'classic, elegant, and romantic Gallic fine dining.'
Carmie Sellitto, a TikTok creator turned restaurant critic, sampled the £300 burger last year. Known as Otto's Le Burger Deluxe, it features:
- Four prime cuts of meat
- A lobster claw topping
- An entire pot of caviar
- Accompaniments like white sauce, egg yolk, and potato crisps
This dish is prepared tableside and is part of the 'After Death Experience' menu, which costs £700 per person, illustrating the vast range of pricing in London's hospitality industry.
Public Reaction and Online Virality
Amy shared her disappointing experience online, posting a video of the starter that quickly went viral. It garnered over one million views and 16,700 likes, sparking widespread discussion about value for money in London's pubs and restaurants. The Tesco cheese itself has a modest 3.3-star rating on the supermarket's website, with some reviews describing it as a 'poor product' and 'vile,' adding to the controversy.
This story highlights ongoing debates about transparency, quality, and pricing in the hospitality sector, particularly in high-cost cities like London. While pubs argue that their prices reflect additional services and overheads, customers like Amy are increasingly vocal about expecting better value and honesty in their dining experiences.
