A couple is accused of dining and dashing, leaving behind a £120 bill (approximately ₹12,000) after sharing photos of their meal on Facebook. The incident occurred on August 5 at the Lazy Fox restaurant in Dorset, United Kingdom. According to reports, the pair indulged in six espresso martinis, gourmet burgers, halloumi and sweet potato fries, and Biscoff cheesecake.
The couple, captured on the restaurant’s surveillance footage, spent an hour enjoying their meal before stepping outside “for a cigarette.” However, they never returned. The Independent reported that the man had posted images of the food and drinks on Facebook shortly before they left.
Mauricio Spinola, co-owner of the Lazy Fox, expressed the impact of the incident on the restaurant. “It was probably about 10 minutes after they went outside that we realized they had gone. I couldn’t just head out and look for him, I still had a bar to run,” she said. Spinola also noted the financial strain this loss places on the small business, especially in the current economic climate. “It’s a big hit for a small business like ours. We just can’t afford to lose over £100 right now. We can’t ask people to give us their phone or wallet when they go out for a cigarette. The vast majority of our customers are great and would think that is weird,” she added.
Dorset Police confirmed that they received a report on Monday regarding customers who had left the restaurant without paying for their meal. A waitress at the Lazy Fox described the duo, mentioning that the woman, who was slightly intoxicated, wore red lipstick and a white top under a white dress. “We were keeping a close eye on them, especially when it came to serving them drinks. After they finished, she said she wanted a dessert and ordered the cheesecake. The woman then stepped outside for a cigarette, and the man followed her out. They never came back. We were rather busy at the time, but we trusted that they weren’t going to do that,” she said.
Enoely Fernandez, another co-owner of the Lazy Fox, criticized the couple for their behavior, especially after boasting about their lunch on Facebook. Following the restaurant’s social media post about the incident, several other establishments came forward, claiming they had been deceived by the same couple in the past.
“The hard thing is the guy didn’t look suspicious. He wasn’t drunk. He wasn’t shouting. He wasn’t disruptive. He asked to go out for a cigarette, and of course, we said that was fine. It was difficult for our bar staff as we just had to reassure them that they had done nothing wrong. It’s just really annoying for everyone,” Fernandez remarked.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses, especially during tough economic times. The Lazy Fox has since shared the story on social media, hoping to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
