EXCLUSIVE: Moment two women ‘run away without paying their bill’ after enjoying £56 meal at gastropub with their children
A landlady has slammed two women who enjoyed a slap up meal at her gastropub with their children – and then left without paying their bill.
The women told staff at the New Smithy Arms in Swinton, North Yorkshire, that they would pay for their food at the bar after their meal.
But on a busy evening no one noticed as the couple slipped away from the pub until they were spotted sprinting through the car park.
Their distinctive white car, with a pink roof, was seen reversing away from its parking space and disappearing down the road.
The landlady Lisa McMaster took to Facebook to post CCTV footage of the women leaving – and gave them until 11am today to settle their bill, but so far there has been no response.
A landlady has slammed these two women who she claims enjoyed a slap up meal at her gastropub with their children – and then left without paying their bill
The New Smithy Arms in Swinton, North Yorkshire, has shared this image of their destinctive car
The pub says the two women were seen ‘running for their car’ after eating their food
Ms McMaster wrote: ‘How nice of you to come for a meal and drinks and run without paying. Staying on a campsite near.’
A member of staff told MailOnline: ‘The two women came in with two young lads and asked if they could have food. It was a busy evening, the floor and tables were busy but there is a conservatory at the back and we found them a table there.
‘They were asked whether they wanted desserts after the four of them had a meal and drinks.
Lisa McMaster, landlady of The New Smithy Arms, has revealed two women did a runner after eating
‘They said they didn’t and would be up shortly to pay at the bar but unfortunately they did not do that and headed for the car park.
‘When it was realised what had happened we checked the CCTV and there they were running for their car.
‘Lisa posted the picture on a local group and we have had lots of responses from people who said they recognised them.
‘The bill was for £56 but that’s not the point, they clearly knew what they were doing.’
The two women are thought to be wearing wristbands for the nearby Flamingo Land Resort and locals say they have been accused of making off without payment from other pubs in the area.
One local said: ‘They should think about the example they have set to two young boys after doing something like this, it’s shameless.
‘It is shocking when pubs and hospitality have been through such difficult times that customers would steal from them and then run away laughing.’
Others posting on social media advised landlords to bring in a ‘pay as you order’ system to avoid their trust being abused by unscrupulous customers.
Industry representatives say leaving without paying for services including meals, petrol, or taxi journeys is akin to ‘stealing someone’s wages’, and could leave innocent people unable to provide for their families.
The runaways ate at the New Smithy Arms in Swinton, North Yorkshire
The most recent ‘dine and dash’ Home Office figures reveal the Metropolitan Police recorded 12,610 incidents making off without paying offences in 2018.
The incident in Swinton mirrors a similar theft at a pub in Cornwall by a family who left without paying after racking up a £215 bill on Father’s Day.
The Fishermans Arms, in Newlyn near Penzance, Cornwall, called out the group, made up of two men, two women and two children, and shared CCTV footage.
Manager Lucy, who did not wish to give her surname, said: ‘I have worked in this industry for 14 years and it’s never happened to me before. It’s just quite disappointing – we only opened seven months ago.
‘We would love it if they came back in and paid, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. We also want other businesses to be aware so that no one else gets stung.
‘We are getting a lot of people messaging saying sorry this has happened – because it’s a small village it has caused a bit of a stir’.
Describing what happened, Lucy claimed: ‘They came in, racked up a huge bill and walked out. They had lots of cocktails, food, starters, mains and pudding.
‘While two of them were talking to bar staff, two walked out and never came back. The second two to walk out said they were going for a cigarette and lo and behold they all left.
‘They did have a look at the bill. They said they would have a cigarette while they waited for their other halves and then come and pay it. The two women walked out first and then the two guys.’
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