A newly-opened restaurant is pleading for a group of diners to come back and settle a £329 bill after claiming they left without paying. Staff at Bella Ciao Swansea say they have reported the incident to police and posted a picture of the group on their Facebook page.
The family-run business only opened in Castle Street earlier this month. Husband, wife, son and grandson all work in the new traditional Sicilian restaurant, whilst the owners’ daughter works in the family’s first restaurant in Port Talbot.
But they were left devastated after a group of four adults and four children reportedly left without paying their bill just days after opening. The business shared a post on Facebook which alleged a woman had tried to pay with a savings account card which got declined twice, and that her son would wait inside while she went out to get her ‘other card’. However the restaurant said she did not return and claimed the son did a “runner”.
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The restaurant said they have no way of contacting the customers as they claim the number made to make the reservation was fake, adding the incident had been reported to the police. The post said: “To do this to anyone is disgusting but to do this to a newly open restaurant is even worse!”
Manager Tyrone Reese told The Mirror his wife had an odd feeling when the family started sending back plates with meals left half-eaten. “They were ordering the most expensive things on the menu, like T-bone steaks and the like,” he said. “My wife said ‘Something’s not right.’ They went full-on with their order but they were also sending plates back half empty.”
A statement from South Wales Police said: “Police were called just before 9.40pm on April, Friday 19, with a report of making off without payment from a business premises on Castle Street, Swansea. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances behind the incident and to identify those involved.” For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here