A restaurant in Altrincham has called out a couple who left without paying for their £60 bill by issuing a heartfelt plea, saying there had been 'real people behind that meal'.
Bengali restaurant Doubletree, on Railway Road, has been a popular mainstay of the Trafford town since it first opened in 2010. Over the years, it has received praise from the likes of TripAdvisor, where it has a four-star rating and is considered one of the best places to eat in Altrincham.
Two failed card attempts
In a post on social media on Monday evening (October 5), owners of the restaurant said they had fallen victim to a 'dine-and-dash incident' where two women had left without paying their bill after two failed attempts to pay by card had been made.
In a plea, the restaurant asked for the individuals involved to return to 'arrange payment' whilst also urging other venues in the area to 'remain vigilant'. The venue said it will be reporting the matter to the police if those responsible do not come forward.
Manager describes upsetting incident
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Doubletree manager Rez said: “I think what makes this incident particularly upsetting is that these two women came into our restaurant and were welcomed and served by our staff in the best possible way.
“They sat down, ordered food, were treated with kindness and respect, and enjoyed the service our team worked hard to provide. To then simply get up and leave without paying - seemingly without even caring whether they were caught - is incredibly disheartening.
“For a small independent business, it’s not just about the money. There are real people behind that meal and that service who have worked hard to look after you. To have that kindness and hospitality treated with such little respect is very upsetting.”
Previous incident at the venue
The Doubletree manager said it was not the first time customers at the venue had left without paying. During Christmas, Rez said a group of four people left without settling their £200 bill.
“Incidents like this have a real impact on small independent businesses,” Rez added. “It’s not only the financial loss - which is significant for a small business - but also the effect it has on staff morale.
“Our team works hard to give customers good food and service, so when people deliberately leave without paying, it can be very upsetting and discouraging for everyone.”
In a separate incident earlier this week, the owners of Chinatown restaurant Noodle Alley reported that one of their staff members had been taken to A&E after she was attacked by a customer who fled without paying for their food. The owners at the time said it 'feels like small businesses are being targeted again and again', having previously reported other incidents of customers leaving without settling their bill in recent months.
