Letter: Say please

I agree that arrogant service can ruin a meal ("Humiliation..." Real Life, 27 July). But please also remember that staff often have to deal with rude and arrogant customers whose demands and behaviour are unreasonable. Waiters are ordinary people. I have always found in restaurants all over the world that if I am pleasant and reasonable to the restaurant staff they will be pleasant in return. A smile and a compliment works wonders.

Finally, if you book a table, please cancel if you can't make it. Every week we have about 1,000 no shows. These can put a small restaurant out of business. Courtesy is a two-way street.

Terence Conran

London SE1