Coffee Shop Faces Backlash Over 'Depressed F***s' Receipt at Funeral Wake
A family in mourning has received a full apology and refund from a coffee shop after a staff member labelled them as 'depressed f***s' on a receipt following their father's wake. The incident occurred at Crossroads café, located in Poundbury, Dorset, the model town associated with King Charles.
Family's 'Disgusting' Experience at Wake
Hannah Pharoah, 34, expressed outrage after discovering the offensive receipt, which was issued following a two-hour wake for her father, Steve Pharoah, who passed away last month at age 67. Her mother, Sue, had chosen to hold the small gathering at Crossroads, her favourite coffee shop, paying over £200 to hire the venue with tapas snacks and drinks for approximately 30 mourners.
Ms Pharoah, a personal trainer, criticised the staff's behaviour throughout the event, claiming they were rude, dismissive, and seemed eager to move the family along to reopen the shop to the public. She noted that staff cleared half-drunk glasses and plates prematurely, treated a coffee order mistake as the customer's fault, and lacked compassion.
Shocking Discovery on Receipt
At the end of the wake, the family requested a printed receipt for invoicing purposes. Ms Pharoah placed it in her mother's purse without checking it. The next day, she was horrified to see the party name listed as 'depressed f***s'. She immediately showed her widowed mother and contacted Crossroads to complain.
Co-owner Matthew McCaurtie, who served the family, apologised and blamed another staff member, describing it as a joke. The business issued a full refund, but the situation escalated when the family shared their experience on social media. Subsequently, someone connected to the business messaged Ms Pharoah directly, calling her a 's***y human being'.
Business Response and Suspension
Sahil Dalvi, another co-owner of Crossroads, offered a sincere public apology on social media, confirming an internal review found the complaint valid. He stated, 'The circumstances in which this occurred make it even more upsetting and I'm truly sorry.' The staff member involved has been suspended pending further action, and a formal written apology has been requested from them.
Mr Dalvi emphasised that as a small, family-run business, they pride themselves on treating every customer with respect and compassion, and this behaviour does not reflect their values or service standards.
Family's Emotional Outcry
Ms Pharoah described the incident as 'disgusting' and a 'sick joke' that exacerbated their grief. She said, 'We were a grieving family at a wake for our father... To mock our grief and my father's death in that way is beyond unprofessional, it is cruel, arrogant and heartless.' She added that the staff were aware it was a wake, with mourners dressed in black and orders of service present.
The family felt treated as a burden, with staff appearing disinterested and smirking during payment. Ms Pharoah concluded that the lack of warmth and professionalism was particularly shocking given the sensitive nature of the event.
