A small family-run cafe in Caergwrle, North Wales, was left reeling after a group of diners consumed nearly £100 worth of food and drinks before fleeing without paying. The shocking ‘dine and dash’ incident took place at Honey’s Bakery & Café, leaving staff and customers horrified.
A Brazen Act Caught Staff Off Guard
The group, consisting of three women, two men, and a very young child, reportedly ordered six full English breakfasts, seven cokes, one brownie, two chocolate fudge cakes, and a cookie, amounting to a bill of £93.80. After finishing their meal, the group sprinted out of the cafe and the car park without paying.
Speaking about the traumatic incident, cafe owner Coleen Tou shared, “They were very skilled, they know what they’re doing. One lady from the group has actually been to the cafe before, so they knew we don’t take payment upfront.”
Annie Bailey, a staff member who served the group, expressed her distress: “It’s shocking to see people take advantage of a small business like ours. All the customers in the cafe were watching horrified. It happens so fast—it’s literally in seconds that they’re gone.” Ms. Bailey and other staff members unsuccessfully chased the group through the car park.
Dine and Dash on the Rise in the UK
The incident at Honey’s Bakery is just one example of a growing trend of dine and dash cases across the UK. In a similar incident last week in Northampton, four individuals fled an Indian restaurant after devouring almost £200 worth of food. Just days before that, a family refused to pay for a £320 bill at a pub in Usk, Wales, further highlighting the financial and emotional toll these acts are taking on small businesses.
The team at Honey’s Bakery took to Instagram to spread awareness about the issue, writing, “This afternoon at Honey’s, we experienced a dine-and-dash incident. A group matching this description ordered a large amount of food and left without paying. If approached by a group matching this description, please take payment before serving and report any suspicious behavior to authorities.”
Police Investigation Underway
North Wales Police confirmed they are investigating the incident, urging anyone with information to come forward. A spokesperson said: “Shortly after 3 pm on Tuesday, 12 August, we received a report that a group eating at a restaurant in Caergwrle left without making a payment of approximately £100. The incident occurred around 2 pm, and we encourage anyone with information to contact us using reference number C124476.”
Meanwhile, Honey’s Bakery continues to recover from the loss, a reminder of the challenges small businesses face in safeguarding against such actions.