Six diners are being sought by police after they allegedly left a Devon seafood restaurant without paying a bill of nearly £600. The group, three men and three women, reportedly ate at The Oyster Shack in Bigbury before departing one by one and driving off in a black Range Rover.
Details of the incident
The party ordered four lobsters and a fruits de mer seafood platter, accumulating a tab of almost £600. They then allegedly slipped away without settling the bill last Saturday, 25 July. The restaurant says it has made repeated attempts to contact the diners using the number provided at the time of booking, but has received no response.
In an update on Wednesday, owner Kieron Vanstone said: "We've given them a deadline for response but they're still dodging our calls. We have left the matter with the police."
Impact on the business
The Oyster Shack shared its frustration on Facebook, stating: "For a small independent restaurant like ours, this isn’t just a financial loss, it’s incredibly upsetting for our staff, who worked hard to provide a warm welcome, only to have their trust abused." The post added that it was shared not to shame anyone but to warn other businesses to stay vigilant.
The restaurant's CCTV system was out of action at the time, but a fellow diner noted the registration plate of the black Range Rover the group is believed to have used. This information has been handed to the authorities.
Police investigation
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson confirmed: "Police are aware of an incident where a number of customers left The Oyster Shack, Bigbury, without paying their bill on Saturday 25 July. Enquiries into this matter are ongoing. Anyone with any information that may assist investigating officers is asked to call police on 101 or visit our website quoting 50260196491."
