A couple enjoyed a lavish seafood lunch and eight Coca-Colas at a family-run waterside restaurant in Penarth, Wales, before leaving without paying the £115 bill. The incident occurred at El Puerto restaurant, located in the historic Custom House building on the Penarth seafront.
Dine and Dash Details
One of the pair ordered from the 'all day set menu,' while the other opted for a dover sole costing £52.90 and a £9.50 portion of calamari. The couple consumed eight cokes, adding £22 to the total. CCTV footage captured them entering and leaving through the main entrance. The man wore a dark sleeveless top and shorts; the woman wore a headband, white top, blue leggings, and carried a black handbag.
Restaurant's Response
On Facebook, the restaurant posted: 'A polite request to two customers who visited The Custom House today… We'd kindly ask you to return and settle your outstanding bill. We'd much rather resolve this directly and appreciate you getting in touch with us as soon as possible.' The post noted that staff recorded the couple's number plate, ironically reading MD11 RAN.
Owner Tanny Martinez expressed disappointment, saying the impact goes 'beyond the financial loss.' He added: '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. It's incredibly frustrating when the hard work and dedication that goes into creating great experiences for our customers is not respected.'
Background and Support
Martinez's family has run the restaurant for 20 years in an 1865 Grade II listed Renaissance-style dock building, formerly the Penarth Head Inn. South Wales Police confirmed receiving a theft report on June 30. Online users condemned the couple, with one commenting 'I love it when people are caught out and publicly shamed, well done guys.' Another wrote 'So sorry to hear this folks, hope it gets resolved.'
