Pub claims it's lost £215 after family 'flees restaurant without paying bill'

A pub claims it's lost £215 after a family 'flees restaurant without paying their bill'.

Times have been tough for plenty of restaurants and pubs across the UK, so an incident of customers not paying for food is certainly not very helpful for businesses.

The popular spot in Cornwall hosted four adults for a Father’s Day dinner on Sunday 18 June, but says they did a ‘runner’ before footing the bill for their food.

Twitter/ArmsFisherman

The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn shared an image and CCTV clip of the alleged culprits on social media in attempt to track them down.

The pub wrote on a social media post, shaming the alleged dine and dashers: “These people have done a runner owing £215, went for a cigarette and did one!!!”

Another post reads: “Anyone know who these people are? Just did a runner without paying, 2 went out the front door and 2 out the back!!! #wewillfindyou.”

It’s reported that the two couples, plus a toddler and a baby, enjoyed tasty roast dinners and cocktails at the scenic pub overlooking Newlyn Harbour.

Pub manager Lucy told The Mirror: “One of them came up to the bar, had a look at the bill and said the women were in the toilet.

“He said they were going out for a cigarette and would come back to settle up, but they left.”

And it seems the women weren’t ‘in the toilet’ either, they’d allegedly already left the pub.

In disbelief of the incident, Lucy added: “They are not from round here. You want to trust people, but this wasn’t an accidental walk-off.

Twitter/ArmsFisherman

“You can see one of the men shushing the other as they walk away on the CCTV.”

Twitter users are just as shocked as Lucy as they write messages of support to the pub: “How despicable… Hope they are found and prosecuted!”

Lucy also told MailOnline: “I have worked in this industry for 14 years and it's never happened to me before. It's just quite disappointing – we only opened seven months ago.

"We would love it if they came back in and paid, but I don't know if it's going to happen. We also want other businesses to be aware so that no one else gets stung.”

Devon and Cornwall Police say: “Police are aware of an incident where it is alleged that a group of people left The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn without paying their bill, late afternoon on Sunday 18 June.

“Enquiries continue into this matter. Anyone with any information that could assist the police is asked to contact 101 quoting case reference 50230172827.”