Miller & Carter diners leave shocking mess as fellow customers brand them 'feral pigs'
A family's visit to an upmarket steak restaurant has sparked a heated debate about parenting and public etiquette after they left behind what witnesses described as a shocking mess on the restaurant floor.
The incident occurred at the Miller & Carter restaurant in Coventry, where dad-of-two Dale Collins was celebrating his mother-in-law's birthday. Dale, 56, noticed food accumulating beneath a nearby table where three couples were dining with two children, one of whom was in a high chair.
'Scutty behaviour' in affluent restaurant
Dale, from Coventry in the West Midlands, told how the situation deteriorated throughout the meal. "We were sat there having a nice meal with my mother-in-law and her friend, and there was this family next to us, and we could see that the mess was starting to gather underneath the table and chairs," he explained.
"We kept looking at it and wondering if anyone was going to do anything about it, but then it just got worse and worse." Dale acknowledged that younger children often create some mess during meals, but expressed dismay that the parents made no attempt to clean up before departing.
"But then they literally just got up and left," he said. "It's gross, it says something about the people." Dale described their conduct as "scutty behaviour" and questioned what it revealed about their parenting approach.
Viral video sparks social media debate
The bingo caller shared a video of the aftermath on Facebook, captioned 'terrible parenting', which quickly went viral, amassing over 106,000 views, likes, shares and comments. In the footage, Dale and his wife Denise, 44, question whether leaving such a "disgusting" mess behind is acceptable behaviour.
Dale expressed particular disappointment that this occurred in what he considered an affluent restaurant. "It is not the kind of behaviour I would expect from diners in a restaurant like Miller & Carter," he stated, adding that he felt for the staff who would have to clean the extensive mess.
"I think one of the staff said it happens quite a lot nowadays," Dale revealed. "It seems people are losing their respect, really." He emphasised that he would never allow his own children to create such chaos without intervention.
Mixed reactions from social media users
The video prompted strong reactions across social media platforms, with opinions sharply divided between condemnation and defence of the family.
Many commenters agreed with Dale's assessment, using particularly strong language:
- "Definitely the type that you should double the service charge, and ask them not to come back again. And yes, I have children and nine grandchildren. Accidents happen, but that's just pigs at a trough."
- "Awful, I always cleaned any mess up if there was any."
- "Wondering what their home looks like if they think this is ok in public."
- "Feral. Imagine the house!"
However, other users offered more sympathetic perspectives, suggesting there might be circumstances not immediately apparent to observers:
- "I've seen it, but I wouldn't bother posting about it because you don't know the situation behind it. What if, for instance, there was a disabled person there who isn't able to keep everything tidy?"
- "Have you ever considered that the child may have learning difficulties? Perhaps you have no idea to the lengths these parents go to even get out for a meal."
- "With young children, it can be tricky. It's not ideal. But sometimes it can't be helped. I'm fairly sure no one lets their child do that."
- "Parents don't walk around with a dust pan and brush."
Broader questions about public behaviour
The incident raises wider questions about dining etiquette and parental responsibility in public spaces. Dale maintained that regardless of circumstances, basic courtesy should prevail. "They should have at least offered, or asked for a dust pan and brush to wipe it up, or picked some of the bigger bits up from under the table," he argued.
"I just thought it was disrespectful, to be honest, more than anything – you wouldn't do that in your own house. It's terrible parenting." He expressed concern that such incidents reflect a broader societal shift, suggesting "people are losing their respect."
The restaurant chain Miller & Carter has been approached for comment regarding the incident and their policies for handling such situations. The debate continues to rage online about where the line should be drawn between understandable mess from young children and what constitutes unacceptable behaviour in public dining establishments.
