I recently moved back to London after a period working overseas, and whilst looking for a place to rent I found myself in Greenwich. I was early for a house viewing, so wandered into the Cutty Sark for a swift pint to kill the time. As soon as I entered the pub I was sold on the area. It really is a wonderful building, with a great selection of beers, genuine pub atmosphere, and fantastic location next to the river.

I ended up renting a house around the corner, and over the last 3 or 4 months I have popped in for a drink most weekends. However last weekend I had probably the most disappointing experience I've ever had in a pub.

I visited the pub with my girlfriend last Saturday afternoon, and as we walked in she said she would quite like a glass of wine. Now, the Cutty Sark has a policy of no glasses outside, which is completely understandable given the cack handed nature of some drinkers and the plastic glasses that they use are decent quality and completely fine for drinking lager or bitter. But my girlfriend wasn't too happy drinking decent wine from a plastic glass, and with the weather nice (for a change) outside, we wanted to sit outside.

So I had a quick look at the other drinkers outside, and noticed that many of them were drinking from glasses. I therefore assumed that since it was early in the afternoon, the "no glasses" rule was relaxed. I ordered my drinks, and asked if it was possible to have the wine in a glass. The girl behind the bar said sorry but no, and I asked her if she could check for me with the landlord.

I was taken aback at what followed. First of all the landlord didn't have the courtesy to come over and talk to me, preferring to maintain his "slouched against the wall folded armed" stance at the end of the bar. He shouted across the bar at me - "No glasses outside"

I asked if he could make an exception for one glass of wine, but he shook his head. I then queried the fact that other drinkers appeared to be drinking from glasses outside. He replied "they are regulars, and I don't know your face - glasses outside are discretionary for people that I know"

I asked what I had to do to become a regular, since I had been coming in regularly for several weeks (I avoided the temptation to suggest that his powers of observation were as well developed as his customer service skills).

He replied - "you have to come in during the winter, not just when it is sunny" I explained that I had only lived in the area for 3 months so this qualification was difficult for me.

He then said - "come back in a years time and I might let you drink outside with a glass"

By this time I had already turned to leave. Had the landlord handled the situation better then I am sure we would have had a drink inside, or I could even (possibly) have convinced my girlfriend to stop being such a ponce and drink her wine from a plastic glass.

So there you have it. Cutty Sark - lovely pub but not exactly a welcoming atmosphere, and sadly I won't be going back.