A cafe owner in Dingle has shared CCTV footage of a customer throwing tinned tomatoes over the floor after being told he could not bring his own drinks into the establishment. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 12, at Golden Brunch on Park Road.
What Happened at Golden Brunch
Klea Hatija, owner of Golden Brunch, said a family visited the cafe and initially there were no issues until she brought over their food. She told the ECHO that she asked the family if they wanted any drinks when taking their food order, but they all said no.
When she brought out the food, she noticed the family had two bottles of water and two bottles of juice on the table. She politely informed them that for next time, they could not bring their own food and drink into the cafe. She explained that the policy is not only about profit but also about health and safety, hygiene, and allergies.
Klea offered free tap water with ice to anyone who wanted it, so no one would be left without a drink if they could not afford to buy one. The family paid and then left, but the CCTV footage shows a man walking away before turning back to allegedly throw tinned tomatoes from his full English breakfast over the floor.
Social Media Reaction
Klea initially posted the video online, and it went viral. The woman involved reached out to apologise and asked her to take it down because a child was involved. Klea decided to reupload the footage with faces blurred to raise awareness of why the cafe has these policies.
Many people reacted on social media. Lisa M Anderson said: "Unfortunately we seem to be living in an age where behaving like an adult for some people is optional." Angela Murray commented: "Is it not common knowledge that you don't consume your own drinks or food in a cafe/ restaurant/ pub. It's always been a rule as long as I can remember." Phil Bushell said: "A shame, this place is really nice and the staff are lovely." Sarah Michelle said: "Why would you take your own drinks into a cafe? It's like taking your own drinks to a pub." Alison E Hardman said: "Many cafes and restaurants have these rules. They are there to protect them as the lady in this case has stated."
Impact on the Business
Klea said that having to tell people they are not allowed to bring in their own food and drinks is a daily occurrence. She hopes the incident highlights the importance of respecting cafe policies, which are in place for safety and hygiene reasons. The cafe continues to operate on Park Road, with staff described as lovely by regular customers.
