Women 'dine and dash' after birthday meal

North Yorkshire Police released CCTV images of four women in relation to the incident

A seafood restaurant has been left out of pocket after a group of women left without paying their £174 bill.

Owner of Lookout on the Pier, Gillian Partridge, said the party of four had booked a birthday celebration at the Scarborough business on the afternoon of 15 September.

After a late arrival, they splurged on two bottles of wine, oysters, a large chowder and several tapas dishes - and were even given a birthday cake.

However, staff were "upset and annoyed" to find the group had not settled their bill despite clearing their plates.

North Yorkshire Police has released CCTV images to identify four women in relation to the incident last month.

Ms Partridge, who has run the café on West Pier for five years, said: "They were right near the door and took the opportunity to do a runner.

"It has a massive impact, we can’t afford to be losing £174 on a Sunday.

"The winter is coming up, our quiet time is approaching now."

The bill racked up by the women included wine and oysters

She explained that the women were allocated an hour and a half slot to dine in the restaurant but their late arrival meant they were asked to finish their drinks at the breakfast bar.

"Then we were getting busy and when the staff turned round, they’d gone," Ms Partridge said.

"The police got hold of them and they emailed back and said the food was awful, they were moved from the table, so thought it wasn’t worth the money and left.

"But they ate everything and told the staff it was fab. The staff even brought them a cake with a candle and played Happy Birthday over the tannoy."

'We break even'

The timing of the dine and dash incident was particularly difficult for the restaurant.

Ms Partridge said it was one of the few seaside cafés which stayed open seven days a week during the winter season.

"We manage but we don’t make any money, we break even to keep up with rent and staff rates," she added.

"I have 15 staff and I keep them all in a job all year round and I’m proud of that.

"For that to happen, it’s upsetting, it’s the cheek of it."

Police asked anyone who could identify the women in the CCTV images to get in touch.

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