The group refused to pay for their bill at the Black Bull in Dumfrieeshire because their night was not ‘amazing enough’ (Picture: Media Scotland)
A group of six men who walked out of a restaurant without paying were dragged back by police to pay their £300 bill of alcohol and food.
They told the owner that their night was not ‘amazing enough’ but they were swiftly marched back to the Black Bull in Dumfriesshire.
Owner Janie Seaton, 52, said: ‘The six had told us they had been unhappy with the mains so I took them off the bill.
‘They also said they were unhappy with the table.
‘One of the group then came up to the bar and said they were not going to pay the remaining £300.
‘I said that they couldn’t do that and got into a stand-off.
‘I felt I had to make a stand – a £300 non-payment would have been a big hit. I have had similar issues over the years.
‘Their attitude was disturbing and extremely misogynistic to me and my manager. I realised that I would have to call the police. At this point they legged it from the premises.
The receipts that the group had to pay when they were escorted back by police (Picture: Black Bull/Media Scotland)
The Black Bull Inn was taken over by Janie in 2018 (Picture: Jim McEwan/Media Scotland)
‘We scored a small win for establishments like mine and staff who deal with these incidents daily. We took a stance. We didn’t back down and we never will. It was not just about the money, it was also about the principle.’
A seventh member of the group did pay before leaving.
Janie added: ‘The police came a short time later and were amazing. They spoke with the six and explained the legal situation and told me they were now going to pay.
‘They brought them in one by one with a police officer flanking either side of them. The police stood by until they made the payment and to ensure there was no further bother.’
Janie said incidents like dine and dash have become more commonplace in recent years.
‘Had they not paid I’d have taken it all the way through the civil courts,’ she said.
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‘If people feel they can get way with ripping me off then other people try. The six had simply decided everything they consumed that evening was free.’
Leon Thompson, executive director of UK Hospitality Scotland, said: ‘Any customers walking out of restaurants without paying is simply unacceptable.
‘We would encourage any operators who experience walkouts to report it to the police.’
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