Dorset burger bar dine and dash ‘affects business morale’

The Lazy Fox burger restaurant in Westbourne, near Bournemouth, has lost £120 in revenue after a couple allegedly dined and dashed on 5 August.

The pair racked up the bill on burgers, halloumi and sweet potato fries, Biscoff cheesecake and six espresso martinis before posting photos of their meal on Facebook.

The burger bar is co-owned by business partners Mauricio Spinola and Enoely Fernandez. Fernandez told The Caterer that there was a high volume of walk-in customers on the evening of the incident, with Spinola recalling that the male customer asked if the pair could smoke outside, to which Spinola agreed. After about 10 minutes, he realised they were gone.

Fernandez estimated that a dine and dash only happens once a year at the venue, and while losing £120 has a “minimal impact” on overall revenue, “it does affect the morale of the business”.

She said: “Even a small revenue loss can be disappointing, especially if it results from an avoidable mistake or missed opportunity. Repeated small losses or a pattern of revenue decline can erode confidence, lower morale and create a sense of vulnerability. Operational challenges, while initially stressful, can ultimately help strengthen the business.”

Fernandez identified walk-outs as a challenging issue, as “we aim to provide a memorable dining experience and rarely encounter customers who dine and dash”.

She added: “Unlike a pub, we focus on table service to enhance our guests’ experience. We do take customers’ card details when they book online, but we also accommodate walk-ins. It would be impractical to request card details from every customer upon arrival.”

Dorset Police confirmed to The Independent that it had received a report regarding costumers who left the eatery without paying for their meal.

Since the incident came to light, other venues in the area have come forward claiming they were also targeted by the couple.

The pair are accused of ordering £170 worth of food and drink at the Urban Garden restaurant in Bournemouth without paying and are also said to have targeted the Westbourne Grill House.

The latest spate follows the recent jailing of a couple from Port Talbot who racked up more than £1,000 in restaurant bills in a series of dine and dash offences.

To mitigate the risks of a dine and dash, operators are advised to put in place measures including:

• Installing CCTV throughout their premises
• Taking card details so they can charge in the event of non-payment
• Make terms and conditions clear for large event bookings, including taking a non-refundable deposit
• Or if a dine and dash has already happened, venues should preserve any evidence that may assist law enforcement.

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