Chef's fury as customers disappear without paying their £371 bill

21 May 2024 , 14:49

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Gary Usher at his Pinion restaurant in Prescot (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

An acclaimed chef has spoken of his anger after three customers left his restaurant without settling their £370 bill.

The culprits are said to have racked up the hefty tab under the pretext of a birthday celebration at Hispi Bistro in Didsbury, Manchester. However, they disappeared on the pretence of going for a cigarette, leaving chef Gary Usher and his staff stunned.

Gary, the award-winning chef and owner of Elite Bistros group, which also owns Liverpool's Wreck, Pinion in Prescot and Burnt Truffle in Heswall. Posting on social media, the exasperated chef said: "End of day report from Hispi Bistro last night. We cooked for 20 people but only 17 of them paid. It's gutting but unfortunately part of running restaurants. Anyway... MORNING."

One follower was quick to empathise with the entrepreneurs frustration, saying: "So basically the restaurant opened for the night with little profit to show now. Must be demoralising." To which Gary simply answered: "Yep."

Gary Usher has called out customers at his Didsbury restaurant who left without settling their bill (X/@GaryUsher_)

Fellow businesses rallied around Mr Usher, praising the standards upheld by his establishments and calling out the unsavoury incident, reports the Manchester Evening News. The Petersgate Tap, a Stockport-based pub, responded with disbelief: "Gutting Gary - what is wrong with people these days? Oh yes it may have something to do with a govt that does what it likes too."

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One person suggested: "Will we end up at the point where, like a hotel, you start to take a holding/pending amount on the card when we enter? I would be happy for this to happen." Another person voiced their shock, saying: "This is appalling behaviour. Personally, I wouldn't mind paying up front but I realise that this is a bit of a culture shift for most. Taking a card swipe would maybe not solve the issue either if the cards are subsequently declined."

While another offered a solution, stating: "Name, address and card details - charge a small amount to card to check it's valid. And sue them as well as reporting to police. But sorry you have this hassle to cope with."

Rom Preston-Ellis