A group of 20 adults and children are accused of leaving a restaurant with an unpaid bill of almost £300.
The group all turned up in separate vehicles to the Tamarind Bay Indian restaurant in Exeter, Devon, on Tuesday evening.
While one family with a baby paid their £52 bill, the manager Saiful Rahman said others in the group did not cough up.
He said it comes at a time when it has been quiet for the restaurant and has reported the issue to police.
Saiful said: ‘We have never experienced a mass exodus. It was actually shocking.
‘I have experience with travellers and I could tell they were from their vehicles, their accents, the way they spoke and how they acted.
‘We served them because we don’t discriminate. We didn’t ask for upfront payment as from experience this would have caused a fuss with them saying we are discriminating against them when other groups of people aren’t asked to.’
The groups had not booked and when the food arrived a family of four left saying they were going across the road to buy a birthday cake.
Other groups left shortly afterwards even though Saiful followed them outside and asked them to pay.
He added: ‘I couldn’t believe the sheer audacity. It seemed very well constructed and we then had to clean up the mess they had left behind.
‘We worked hard to serve them, they left, drove off, lied, and they had children who most likely will copy their behaviour.
‘I called the police on 999 who asked whether the people had left the building. I said yes and was advised to call 101 as it was classed as a non-emergency.
‘After an hour and 10 minutes, we managed to get through and explain the situation. The police took some information and advised they would be in touch.
‘What happened is a big deal because bars, restaurants and cafes are struggling so I do want some justice. All I want is for everyone to be alert, safe and to not feel powerless.
‘The people who committed this crime are aware of the post as one of them rang last night and tried to get me to take it down but I refused.
‘He said his vehicle had been pictured in the post and said he was the one that paid and he wasn’t part of the group, but they all came together.
‘We have had multiple messages from people saying the vehicles we shared photographs of on our Facebook page have been seen at Cowick Barton Playing Fields where travellers have set up.
‘The messages of support we have received have gone a long way to help us feel much better.’
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘Police are aware of an incident where is it alleged that a group of people left Tamarind Bay restaurant, Exeter, without paying their bill on the evening of Tuesday, April 23.
‘Enquiries continue into this matter. Anyone with any information that could assist the police is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 50240097061.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Man jailed for life after killing ‘hero’ who was breaking up fight outside club
MORE : Body pulled from sea after teenager went missing a month ago
MORE : Hunt for woman ‘found grabbing two young children’ at a holiday park
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
