Nicholas “Nick” King arrived at Rosecroft Park in Episode 1 with confidence he described as coming in “heavy doses.” Edinburgh-born, world-traveled, 25 years old, and — according to his application — a bartender. It took less than one episode for that last detail to fall apart.
During Sam Vanderpump and Alice Yaxley‘s engagement party, a guest asked for a whiskey sour. Nick didn’t know how to make one. A guest asked for a gimlet. He didn’t know what it was. Guest Tina Stinnes — who was actively making out with Nick at the time — had to go behind the bar and pour her own glass of wine when Nick wouldn’t do it. Alice and Sam brought it to Lisa the next morning.
“Your bartender doesn’t know how to bartend,” Alice told her directly. She added that he was very good with words — “it’s manipulative, almost.”
Nick’s own assessment of the moment: “Worst nightmare.”
His Coworkers Aren’t Buying It
Staff member Sam Terry pulled Nick outside with Marciano to address it before Lisa found out. Neither of them was subtle about what they were thinking.
“I gotta be honest, I don’t think Nick is remotely close to where he should be,” Sam said.
Marciano went further. “It seems like Nick doesn’t know how to bartend for shit. It’s weird. It really makes me question his motives here. And it doesn’t seem, to me, it’s for the right reasons.”
The implication is clear — if Nick is not here to actually bartend, why is he here?
Lisa Demotes Him
Lisa addressed it at the staff meeting before the Challenge group checked in. She told Nick she was “a little bit miffed” at how he sold himself, but acknowledged that what he lacks in bar skills he makes up for in charm and personality. She moved him to barback. He kept his job — barely.
The Tina and Alyssa Factor
Here is where Marciano’s “not for the right reasons” comment starts to look pointed. Within 24 hours of arriving, Nick made out with “Made in Chelsea” guest Tina and ended up in bed with her. By Episode 2, he had shifted his attention entirely to Alyssa Johnston but that didn’t stop him from flirting with Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu when she arrived. By Episode 3, Nick and Alyssa were kissing on a punting boat in Oxford and holding hands through the streets. By the end of the night, they were kissing hard in front of everyone back at the house. Hagen’s reaction from the sidelines: “Why are we watching this?”
Nick’s own confessional after kissing Alyssa: “I think I’m in trouble because I really like her.”
That may be true. It also may be the most convenient development possible for someone whose professional cover story just collapsed.
Lisa Called It Before
This is not the first time Lisa has dealt with a staff member whose credentials did not hold up. Her own callback said it all. When the whiskey sour situation came to light, Lisa said: “Not only has my butler flown the coop, but one of my bartenders doesn’t know gin and tonic from diddly-squat? After Siadi last summer, how many fake Brits do I have to deal with?”
She gave Nick the benefit of the doubt. Whether he earns it is still very much an open question.
All ten episodes of “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3 are streaming now on Hulu.
The ‘Vanderpump Villa’ Season 3 reunion airs April 30th. See what we know and watch the trailer here.
More ‘Vanderpump Villa’ Content
Catch up on everything leading into the reunion:
- What Are the “Vanderpump Villa” Cast Up to Now?
- Who’s on the Hot Seat at the “Vanderpump Villa” Reunion?
- The Wildest Moments From “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3
- Questions the “Vanderpump Villa” Reunion Needs to Answer
- Everything to Know Before the “Vanderpump Villa” Reunion
- Who Won the Bonuses In “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3?
For more “Vanderpump Villa” content, click here.
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