London restaurant asks diners to sign legal form before eating traditional Christmas pud

3rd December 2009, 2:40pm

Diners at a London restaurant are being asked to sign a legal form before they eat its traditional Christmas puddings, just in case they swallow a silver charm by accident.

The owner of High Timber, a 'wine dining' restaurant in the heart of the City, was warned by some of her regular customers in the legal profession, that the complex Health and Safety regulations made serving a traditional pudding with lucky charms practically impossible…unless diners signed a legal indemnity before tucking in.
 
Neleen Strauss, owner of High Restaurant, said: "Yes, it's crazy but when you've got half a dozen lawyers looking after your interests, you can't ignore them. I had to take their advice.
 
"Bureaucrats and pen pushers spend the whole of the year coming up with ways of how to take fun out of traditional things like egg and spoon races and pinning the tail on the donkey.
 
"If by getting my customers to sign a form before they can eat a delicious Christmas pud, then that's what I'll do. It's good to keep traditions alive, even if we have to jump through hoops to do it."

The form customers have to sign states: I the undersigned realise that by eating this Christmas Pudding at High Timber restaurant, London, I could bite into a lucky silver sixpence or silver charm.
 
I absolve entirely High Timber from all blame or liability should I come to any harm including but not limited to a chipped tooth, or any injury as a result of swallowing it.
 
I eat this Christmas Pudding in the full knowledge there may be silver items within.

Related Articles:

• 05 Aug 2010 - High Timber offers exclusive dining experience – based on fine wine and grouse - in latest deal

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