Written by Ashton Deroy

In an effort to get information related to Bay of Quinte Pride. I began looking into some of the local Businesses that serve them. In doing that I investigated their reviews page. Came across a customer story that makes me think. 116 Bistro might not be the Diversity loving GOOD Business they position themselves to be.

Kelsey Stapley ‘Pretty rude owners, bad customer service, EXTREMELY overpriced, bad food We went for the New Years event and ON TOP OF PAYING FOR OUR EXPENSIVE FOOD, paid $150 (3 people) for what was SUPPOSED to cover 1. A drag show 2. A personal size of bubbly EACH 3. Party favours 4. A table Out of all of these things, all we got was the table lmao. We asked TWO different servers what the cover was for and they simply said “the show”. Then I messaged the business and asked why I had to pay $150 for nothing (when we saw people walking in for free as well), and they pretty much argued with me and told me they “found it hard to believe everyone got some except us”. 0/10 do not go unless you want to be treated like 💩 and pay an arm and a leg

Disappointing food · Poor presentation · Slow service.” January 5 2024 .

Well based on this remark I reached out to Kelsey Stapley to investigate the complaint. As my readers know I am a skeptic in regards to restaurant complaints made anonymously but she attaches name & face. She is very responsive to my Customer Service style market research. Also there are other complaints that could suggest this is consistent with the Business and how they operate.

Here is a Dialogue between her and I.

Ashton Deroy ‘I saw your Review on The 116 Bistro. I am doing an investigation on Companies going out of their way to associate with pride season. How come you didn’t like the drag show?”

Kelsey Stapley ‘The drag show was great! It was literally just the restaurant workers acting like they’re better than the customers, and we also had to pay like $50 each to get in for the cover of the show, a personal bottle of bubbly, and party favours… but did not get any of that. Food is not great and overpriced Id say just the atmosphere the workers there make, it feels like being in a high school cafeteria haha!.

Whoever was putting the actual drag show on though was great.”

Ashton Deroy ‘Ok can I share your remarks? Cause at the very least it does prove this Business fails to serve customers what they paid for. I think you also said you paid a cover but other people didn’t?”

Kelsey Stapley ‘Yeah no problem! We had to send an etransfer ahead of time to get “tickets” but nobody checked for tickets or anything, and we asked a few people if they had to pay to get in and they said no.”

Kelsey then proceeded to share a chat she had with the 116 Bistro where said no customer service remedy was created.

The Smokin’ 116 Bistro ‘They all paid up front…… every one at a table got a bottle of Bubbly at 11:45 pm and when they first took your order they would have gave you all the party stuff.”

Kelsey Stapley ‘We didn’t get any of that.”

The Smokin’ 116 Bistro ‘The girls went to every table and dropped off bottles. They even made an announcement saying they are dropping off bottles. My ads and posts said what was included with the ticket. Hard to believe that you were the only one who didn’t get anything. I don’t know what to say but I guess sorry.”

After this Kelsey Stapley describes the issued not being remedied. Just a hollow apology through chat January 3 2024.

What is Breach of contract? The non-breaching party must show that the other party has failed to perform their obligations under the contract, either by not performing at all or by performing in a manner that is not per the terms of the contract. Damages resulting from the breach.

By paying in advance Kelsey was supposed to receive access through their ticket to the event, they were supposed to receive a bottle of bubbly as she put it and party stuff. If Kelsey can prove they indeed paid for the event and that services were not rendered. Then the party that breached the contract must provide a full refund. Or fulfil the original service request. Now as an experienced customer service representative I think the proper remedy is the $50 refund. https://achkarlaw.com/breach-of-contract-what-you-need-to-know/

Conclusion: This is proof that LGBTQ events in Belleville Ontario require more oversight. Not delivering on a promised service. Should not be happening. Even in Small Business to customer situations. I said I was going to find something awful in the LGBTQ events space and I did. This is truly a terrible reflection on the Bistro which hosts many Bay of Quinte Pride events.