While celebrating New Year’s Eve at a prestigious five‑star London hotel, Irish tourist Lynsey, known as @lynsey_36 on TikTok, ordered a drink she believed cost £18.90. Instead, she was stunned when the bill arrived at a jaw‑dropping £1,890 for a single cocktail.
Panic Mode: The Shock Sets In
Lynsey shared the moment she saw the bill with her husband, who reacted with disbelief. She remembered: “He was furious … so he left the bar” . Feeling embarrassed and helpless, she apologized to the bartender, noting she “had no idea it was £1,890.” The bartender, visibly panicked, called a manager.
Manager to the Rescue
Fortunately, the manager handled the situation with discretion and warmth:
“They were so discreet and so wonderful … ‘go up to your room, enjoy the rest of your stay, and we’ll sort this out.’”
Lynsey followed the advice, avoided the bar for the next four nights, and spent her stay worrying about whether she’d have to pay the full amount .
Reunion and Tears
On New Year’s Eve, she returned to the bar with her sister. The manager greeted her warmly:
“Oh, it’s the girl that made us open the Cristal.”
Curious about the bartender’s fate, she asked what happened to him—and was told he’d been fired. Overwhelmed, she burst into tears and offered to pay the £1,890 to save his job . The manager reassured her it was a joke: the bartender was not fired, just retrained .
What Was in the Cocktail?
Curious onlookers on TikTok asked what warranted such a steep price. Reports suggest the drink included Cristal Champagne, gold leaf, and 30‑year‑old whisky or cognac . While extravagant, even the rare spirit and luxe additions didn’t seem worth the shock to many users .
Lessons Learned
Lynsey learned a powerful (and expensive) lesson: always check the fine print. Since then, she’s become vigilant about price formats and notes:
- Confusing formatting (“18 90” with a space) led to her huge error
- Standard menus use a decimal point (e.g., 18.90), which she missed.
- It’s now her rule to double-check every drink price before ordering.
A Happy Resolution
Thankfully, the hotel chose not to bill her and instead embraced her during the remainder of her stay. She even ended up sharing celebratory drinks with the manager and his family on New Year’s Eve. By the end, the experience was another memorable — if costly — story for her travel diary.
Final Thoughts
This incident highlights how easily price presentation can mislead guests—especially under the haze of holiday celebrations. Even in luxe settings, miscommunication can spiral into major embarrassment, but it can also end with empathy and goodwill. Lynsey’s story offers a cautionary note to travelers: scrutinize every menu, confirm the currency and format, and never assume. In luxury hotels where cocktails can include Cristal and gold leaf, few things are typical. Cheers to price awareness—and always enjoying your holiday, minus any shocking surprises! Lynsey’s experience serves as a humorous yet valuable reminder that even the most luxurious moments can come with unexpected twists. When traveling, always stay alert—even in the most glamorous surroundings.
