Riverside Cafe Shocks as Diners Sprint After £100 Fry-Up Feast

A Disturbing Trend of Dine and Dash Incidents

A recent incident at a small community café in North Wales has left the owners and staff in shock after a group of individuals allegedly stole nearly £100 worth of food and drinks before fleeing without paying. This is the latest in a growing trend of dine and dash incidents that are becoming increasingly common across the UK, leaving many business owners feeling vulnerable and frustrated.

The event took place at Honey’s Bakery & Café in Caergwrle, where a group of three women, two men, and a very young child reportedly feasted on a variety of meals and beverages before running out of the restaurant without settling their bill. The total amount owed was approximately £93.80, which included six full English breakfasts, seven cokes, one brownie, two chocolate fudge cakes, and a cookie.

Staff at the family-run café were forced to chase the group through the car park after they refused to pay. According to Annie Bailey, a 21-year-old employee who was serving the family, the situation was both shocking and distressing for everyone involved.

“We were just shocked that people would actually act like that,” she said. “All the customers in the cafe were watching on horrified. It's such a difference for a small business. It was just horrible to see it happening in real time.”

Owner Coleen Tou, who took over the business in 2019, added that the group appeared to be well-versed in how to exploit small businesses. “They were very skilled, they know what they're doing. One lady that's from the group has actually been to the cafe before, so they know that we don't take payment up front.”

Despite the traumatic experience, Ms. Tou expressed relief that no one was hurt. However, she admitted that such incidents have become more frequent, and she is not as surprised anymore.

The Impact on Staff and Business

For Ms. Bailey, who has worked at the café for four years, the event was particularly upsetting. She described how the group initially seemed fine when they arrived, but then quickly decided to leave without paying. “We were just keeping an eye on everybody like we do usually and then it was literally just so quick—just two split seconds, and they literally legged it.”

She also noted that the group didn’t even ask for the bill before leaving. “We chased after them but we couldn't catch up to any of them.” The emotional toll on the staff was significant, with many expressing frustration and disbelief over the incident.

Honey’s Bakery & Café took to Instagram to raise awareness about the incident, sharing details about the group of travelers with Irish accents who had ordered a large amount of food and then left without paying. They urged customers to be cautious and to take payment before serving anyone matching the description.

North Wales Police confirmed that they received a report about the incident shortly after 3pm on Tuesday, 12 August. The police have asked anyone with information to contact them using the reference number C124476.

A Growing Problem Across the UK

This incident is not an isolated case. Just last week, four individuals fled from an Indian restaurant in Northampton after feasting on almost £200 worth of food. CCTV footage showed the group arriving at 10:11 pm and leaving at 10:58 pm, having consumed a variety of dishes including poppadoms, lamb chops, chicken curries, and naans.

Earlier this month, a family of ten was accused of barging their way out of a popular pub in Usk, Wales, after refusing to pay a £320 food bill. Landlady Kelly Jollife described how each member of the group ordered a starter and main course, ate everything, and then refused to pay anything other than their drinks.

These incidents highlight a troubling trend that is affecting small businesses across the country. As these events continue to occur, business owners are being forced to find new ways to protect themselves and their staff from similar situations in the future.