A restaurant owner in Greater Manchester has been left devastated after a group of four customers shamelessly walked out without paying their bill, which totalled a substantial £230. The incident occurred on Valentine's Day, February 14, at the Chadderton Bar and Grill near Oldham, leaving proprietor Lokman Gurbuz feeling 'gutted' by the brazen act.
Shameless Exit Captured on CCTV
Closed-circuit television footage from the establishment clearly shows the moment the diners made their swift exit. Two women, one dressed in a blue tracksuit and the other in a black jumpsuit, are seen walking past a confused waiter and out of the door. They are followed shortly after by a man wearing an all-black tracksuit and puffer jacket. A fourth individual, who was also part of the party, is not visible in the video but is reported to have left without paying as well.
A Lavish Feast Left Unpaid
The detailed bill, which Mr Gurbuz shared on social media to highlight the incident, reveals the extent of their order. The quartet indulged in two fillet steaks priced at £26.95 each, along with pizzas, portions of Frederick's ice cream for dessert, and a selection of drinks. Their beverage choices included Malibu and coke, as well as eight pornstar martinis, contributing to the hefty total.
Mr Gurbuz recounted the events to the Manchester Evening News, explaining that the group had not made a reservation and had to wait approximately 15 minutes for a table due to the restaurant being quite busy. After being seated, they ordered cocktails, double Malibus, food, and dessert, with a friend joining them later. One woman initially stepped out for a smoke, and the rest followed about five minutes later.
Owner's Plea for Payment
In a heartfelt public post on Facebook, accompanied by the CCTV footage, the restaurant issued a direct appeal to the customers. The message stated, 'We are sharing this message to make other restaurant owners and businesses aware. These customers visited our restaurant, enjoyed their meal, and unfortunately left without paying the bill. We have CCTV footage and the bill receipt as proof of the incident.'
The post continued, emphasising that while the business normally respects customer privacy and avoids sharing CCTV publicly, they felt compelled to raise awareness to protect other local establishments from similar occurrences. They kindly requested the individuals to contact them and settle the outstanding amount, while also urging fellow business owners to remain vigilant.
Impact Beyond Financial Loss
For Mr Gurbuz, the incident is not solely about the monetary loss. He expressed his frustration, noting, 'I am gutted. It's not just about the money, but it's the time. We had to make all the cocktails for them when we were busy.' This sentiment underscores the broader impact on small businesses, where resources and effort are wasted on dishonest patrons.
The Chadderton Bar and Grill's appeal has garnered attention, highlighting the challenges faced by hospitality venues in combating such acts of dishonesty. As the search for the diners continues, the owner hopes for a resolution that sees the bill settled and awareness raised within the community.
