Six customers who left a restaurant without paying their £300 bill were escorted back by the police to settle their dues. The group had refused to pay for their meal and drinks at the Black Bull in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, claiming they hadn’t enjoyed their evening.
After being turned away from a nearby pub last year, the police found them at their hotel and took them back to the restaurant around midnight to clear their bill. Restaurant owner Janie Seaton, 52, recalled: “The six had told us they had been unhappy with the mains so I took them off the bill.”
They also complained about their table.
“One of the group then came up to the bar and said they were not going to pay the remaining £300,” she added, as reported by the Daily Record. This led to a stand-off, with Janie insisting they couldn’t just leave without paying.
According to Janie, the group argued that their experience wasn’t “amazing enough” to justify payment. She described their behaviour as unsettling and extremely misogynistic towards her and her manager, reports Edinburgh Live.
“Their attitude was disturbing and extremely mysogynistic to me and my manager. I realised that I would have to call the police. At this point they legged it from the premises. However, one member of the group did settle his bill before leaving.”
Janie, the pub owner, praised the police for their “amazing” handling of the situation. She explained: “They spoke with the six and explained the legal situation and told me they were now going to pay. The individuals were escorted in one at a time, each flanked by a police officer. The officers remained on the scene until the bill was settled to prevent any further issues. ” Janie revealed that such incidents are becoming increasingly common.
She said: “Had they not paid I’d have taken it all the way through the civil courts. I felt I had to make a stand a £300 non-payment would have been a big hit.I have had similar issues over the years. ” She added: “If people feel they can get away with ripping me off then other people try.The six had simply decided everything they consumed that evening was free. ” Janie took over the Black Bull in 2018 and in 2020 it was nominated for the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year. She declared: “We scored a small win for establishments like mine and staff who deal with these incidents daily.We took a stance. We didn’t back down and we never will.It was not just about the money, it was also about the principle. ” Leon Thompson, executive director of UK Hospitality Scotland, commented: “Any customers walking out of restaurants without paying is simply unacceptable.”
He advised: “We would encourage any operators who experience walkouts to report it to the police. “.