A couple dined on Dover sole and calamari at an upmarket Penarth restaurant before fleeing without paying their £115.60 bill, leaving the owner 'hugely disappointed.'
Incident at El Puerto
The man and woman visited El Puerto at the Old Custom House in Penarth at around 8pm on June 29. CCTV footage showed them parking their fancy car in the brasserie's private car park before enjoying a meal and drinks, then leaving without settling the bill.
According to the receipt, the pair ordered an all-day set menu for £32, a Dover sole meal for £52.10, calamari for £9.50, and eight Coca-Colas for £22, totaling £115.60. The incident has been reported to South Wales Police.
Owner's Reaction
Business owner Tanny Martinez said: 'This has been hugely disappointing for the entire team. The hospitality industry is already facing an incredibly challenging economic climate, with rising costs and pressures across the sector, without having to deal with situations like this.'
He added: 'It's incredibly frustrating when the hard work and dedication that goes into creating great experiences for our customers is not respected. The impact goes beyond the financial loss. Situations like this can also have a real effect on the team's morale and wellbeing, especially when so much care and effort goes into every service.'
How They Left
Tanny's marketing team claimed the couple left quickly when they realised staff were not watching them. A spokesman said: 'It was a normal dining experience and they waited until waiting staff in that area's backs were turned and then once they could see there was nobody watching, they left quickly.'
A manager realised what had happened and ran into the car park, but the couple had already left. The restaurant shared a Facebook post asking the couple to contact them to resolve the matter directly. The incident has been reported to South Wales Police, who confirmed a theft report was received on June 29. Anyone with information is asked to contact them quoting 2600206060.
