A Pub Goes To Facebook To Call Out The “Lovely Couple” That Left Without Paying Their Valentine’s Day Bill Of $244
All the lovebirds around the world have a specific day to celebrate their relationship – some choose to ignore it, others shower their significant others with gifts and affection. Many singletons also put their own twists on the celebration – things such as Galentine’s day allow many to spend the day with their beloved friends without missing out on anything by not being in a committed relationship.
Still, many couples love to go out of their way and do something different by celebrating Valentine’s Day. It could be a romantic day out, a picnic, a trip abroad or a lavish dinner at a restaurant. Many folks plan the day in advance and fill it up with a bunch of activities to remind their partners about the infinite love they have for them.
For instance, this couple decided to have a nice dinner date at a local pub in North Yorkshire. The lovers didn’t think twice and ordered an array of foods, including lobster, some steak and a few bottles of Zinfandel – however, things went a little south when they decided to walk out without paying their bill.
More info: Facebook
There’re many interesting ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, though this couple decided to go with a “free” dinner at a pub
Image credits: themillstokesley
Sometimes people get all sorts of questionable impulses, just like in the cartoons where you get two contrasting versions of yourself sitting on your shoulders debating about whether it’s your time to shine and do something evil, or whether you should continue being your normal, law-abiding self. Who knows what made the couple do what they did, but the pub had no other choice than to address them on their Facebook page.
Couple leaves without paying their $244 bill and makes the owner publicly address them online
Image credits: themillstokesley
The Mill took it to their personal page and released a little statement regarding this debatable event. The pub firstly revealed that the bill was, in fact, relatively huge as the couple ordered 4 Zinfandel bottles, half a lobster, a fillet steak and a few starters. The owner addressed this lightheartedly and with a touch of humor, while also showing some compassion by saying that the pub is sure that it was just a honest mistake and asked the couple to come forward and pay the bill by 4 p.m.
Image credits: themillstokesley
Naturally, the post went viral and many were really disappointed with the situation. A number of people contacted the pub, as well as North Yorkshire’s police and some local daily newspapers. The owner later revealed that the bill still wasn’t paid – however, the man did contact the pub, saying that everything would be settled the next day, presumably because he had insufficient funds, as he did mention that the bill would be paid “when he gets paid.”
Image credits: themillstokesley
Nevertheless, everything was finally sorted, as The Mills announced that the bill was fully paid by an anonymous female that was believed to be the man’s girlfriend. Again, the pub was really laid back during this unusual Valentine’s Day adventure/web investigation and finished everything off by hilariously saying “bless, who said romance is dead.”
Image credits: themillstokesley
Despite the happy ending, many people were saddened by such an event, as everyone understood that a lot of businesses still financially struggle since the pandemic didn’t spare anyone, and things are yet to become the way they were before. Every penny counts and folks are working very hard to bring their previous life back. Moreover, why would anyone risk involving themselves in such a scam, knowing that the consequences might be bigger than a little Facebook post?
Image credits: themillstokesley
Even so, there are plenty of ways to spend a Valentine’s Day without having to waste a dollar. Showing your love and affection doesn’t cost anyone a thing. But what do you think about this situation? Do you think the pub owner handled everything correctly, or would you do things differently?
Fellow online users couldn’t believe the audacity of these folks
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I am still flabbergasted that they could even walk after having four bottles of wine between the two of them.
Amateur... ;-) But an upvote for use of the word "flabbergasted", I don't see that one enough.
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I say let's make him and blur her face out since she paid it off and she was most likely unaware soccer it was Valentine's day and I'm guessing he took her out? But I could be wrong
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FOUR bottles of wine between two people? I'm more concerned that one of them got behind the wheel after that.
If the comments are any indication, whichever one was the driver certainly wasn't up to driving safely.
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I just want to know why anyone would order a Coke when you have 4 bottles of wine!
Well it was no mistake since he revealed he had no funds till payday. They had dinner with full knowledge that they had no money to pay the bill! I am glad the restaurant called them out on social media & did not give them a free pass. Unlikely they will pull a stunt like this again.
For all we know, the girlfriend might have been the one who intended to pay to begin with, since obviously she had sufficient funds to do it the same night it was requested. They had four bottles of Zinfandel between them - they were probably so smashed when they finished all that, that they didn't even think about it, just got up and left.
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I bet the girlfriend who paid had the Thai curry and the bf had the steak and lobster.
If like me you’re confused why the headline says 244 and the bill has 179.20 then double check the currency.
There's about 700 calories in one bottle of Zinfandel, x4 is 2600+ calories in wine alone
Yup, I think that's the important takeaway here. ;-)
Load More Replies... ...and still no tip for the server. Glad it was paid but geesh, he made her pay? Yep, I don't think there will be a 2nd Valentine's for this guy!
...and they're still not in the USA, so they aren't required to tip. The "server" still gets paid.
Load More Replies... I have forgotten to pay on occasion. The first was at my regular. The server came over and asked where I was. The others correctly said I had left. She shrugged and said, "Oh well, I'll get him tomorrow." And she did.
They had all that and that was all it cost? Time to move! You can have halloumi fries and curry chicken at the same restaurant???
Yeah, good prices, great variety... They have burned a really wonderful restaurant!
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They had to pay their bill, and I suspect they won't be served there in future since the staff have CCTV of them. That'd be enough.
Load More Replies... In fairness, if I’d had four bottles of wine with my partner, over the course of one dinner, I’d have forgotten to pay the bill too.
You'd have to be very wealthy in order to forget a 200+ dinner tab. The fact that he didn't have the money to cover it immediately but had to wait until "he was paid", leads one to believe he never had the intention of paying to begin with. The couple was lucky law enforcement wasn't brought in immediately.
It's also really sad he didn't have the nerve to call and resolve it himself; he had, presumably, his girlfriend to take care of it. Lame dude!
Jeez, the only people I’ve seen drink 2 bottles of wine apiece and then drive home are Wisconsinites when I worked at the supper club🤦😪 I thought you guys really frowned on drunk driving in Europe, more so than here???
Tbf there's every chance they didn't drive, seems like a local pub/restaurant
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It is bad enough if your card is declined by error and you don't have any backup.... HOWEVER, to deliberately go out, order ALL this food &$$% knowing 100% that you literally do NOT have any $$ to pay your bill (& its not as if it was a $30 meal either!!!) We call this THEFT here! The owners were quite gracious about the whole situation. I certainly would not have been! AND apparently didn't even leave any $$ cash tip for the server! Hoping he is now on your "banned" list going forward!
Agreed, however, tipping is quite uncommon in the UK, or at least, not expected, compared to the US for example
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They obviously didn’t “forget” to pay it. Even if they were drunk. They had to wait to pay the bill until the guy got paid meaning they went in there knowing they weren’t going to pay it. At least he knew he wasn’t going to pay it, she may have not known but still.
My guy and I were both trying to save money this Valentine's Day. I had hoped to make a fancy dinner with some premium meat. Instead I made handmade biscuits to go with a cheaper meal. It was still delicious and we were still just as loving afterwards. Never ONCE did it cross our minds to eat a fancy meal out and run the check, even though we used to eat out frequently. Like. Not once. Never did we think, "We deserve something special, so let's steal it."
They didn't even ***tip*** on it? These people are DOUBLE trash (unless the UK is one of those countries in which waitstaff is ACTUALLY PAID a close-to-living wage, & tipping is not customary there?...if so, then I guess they are just regular trash , 🙄). They should show their faces & names, so that other restaurants KNOW what these two ARE, & will not serve them.
Tipping is *customary* in restaurants here, but at the same time, it is not wage theft to avoid doing so in the UK, because they *are* actually paid properly. Personally I find it disgusting that US restaurants get away with not even paying a minimum wage, let alone a living wage, to their staff. So yeah, I'd have agreed with you, if they'd been in the States. Since they're not, the staff do at least get minimum wage - which is £8.91 per hour, currently about US$12.11, for anybody over 22.
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Even after they paid I would have put a clear video clip of them up on social media to warn other businesses to be on the watch for them. If they tried this once, they will do it again. Heck, they may already be serial dine and dashers.
After 4 bottles of Zin, I suspect it's more likely they were just smashed!
Load More Replies... Why FFS convert 180 quid to US-dollars? Conversion course is subject to change, and most people world wide will know GBP as well!? I don't get it.
Sadly most Americans dont know the relative worth of any other country so any site with a large US audience does need to convert based on what it would have been on the day of the incident.
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4 bottles of wine and a coke.... I bet someone had 4 bottles to themselves
Wat about the tip!? wait-do they actually pay servers a regular wage in EU? cuz if that happened 2 me in the US wen I was a server I wouldve FLIPPED OUT! We get zero dollar paychecks here so tips are our only take home pay & that would b a $45 tip normally cuz esp on V-day typically its 20%. Usually we get 18% average. Sometimes u work & might only have 4 tables all night so if just ONE doesnt tip that means you've lost 1/4 of ur income 4 a whole day. The restaurant only has 2 make up 4 it up 2 the amt of min wage if ur earnings 4 the MONTH dont add up 2 min wage. It might actually be 4 the wk, not sure, but a month is wat a manager told me. So that means even if u make zero in tips 3 days straight, as long as u average $9 an hr (or watever ur state min wage is) 4 the wk (or month?) then the restaurant doesnt have 2 pay u any xtra 2 make up 4 it. Its illegal but sum places make servers PAY the bill 4 theives too! Sum of many reasons I quit bartending/serving
Yeah, its not customary to tip in the UK unless your server goes above your expectations and even then its not expected.
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I see comments about "if they can't afford to go out..." But I see it differently. We would do well to learn that many of these establishments are too expensive for most people. I don't need to impress anyone with a 240.00 meal. I'm more aligned with someone who will be comfortable with me cooking them a delicious dinner for a sixth or an eighth of the price. No one needs the pressures that come with a 240. dinner tab. No one needs all that red meat, and no one needs four bottles of wine between two people. It's not romantic at all
Well, at least the scumbags have terribly cheap taste in wine. If the mark up at the restaurant only gets the bottle to 30 dollars US, that is some disgusting gut rot right there.
Or, y'know, there might just be local laws about what they're allowed to do in that sense. Not every country and profession is out for every penny they can bilk out of someone.
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They sound like an older couple. They may well have simply forgotten. Four bottles of wine can cause that, as well.
I'm more surprised they were charged for peppercorn! Like we just keep it on the tables on this side of the pond.
I did a runner from a restaurant when I was in my late teens / early twenties. Felt bad about it for a number of years. When I was in my 30's I went back for a meal, called the owner (same guy for years) over and explained what I did and paid the amount (plus a big tip) owing. He actually remembered me doing the runner!
I'm a wino and a pro at that I guess because I can put down 2 bottles (750ml) myself easy, many times finishing a 3rd too and not being so shitfaced that I'm completely blottoed. I like Zins, Rosés and Moscatos that are higher octane, like 13% or higher. I'm not a large person either and not a frequent pee-er when I drink so I'm retaining that alc for a while. I definitely can't drive after that much but I can still walk pretty well and I'd still be aware enough to remember to pay for a meal! I don't drink every day but a few times a month with friends hanging out, eating, we'll get pretty toasted! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷😋🙃 Haven't had a hangover in a long time either and headaches are a problem for me when I'm sober!
If you have ever worked as a server then you leave a tip. A big one. ALWAYS!! You work it out before you order, you make sure you can afford the food, booze AND a tip before you go out. Wait staff are not always paid minimum wage, they never were in the olden days. Its classy to leave a tip, it makes you feel good, you let yourself feel generous and you help someone. My uncle was single quite a bit and ate out all the time. Even at a little Diner, he left a tip for everyone, even a small one for the teenager who cleared the table, and the cook. They all Gave him good service because he gave them a couple bucks AND a great deal of Respect.
Wrong, Janet. This happened in England, where it is 100% illegal not to pay the national living wage (£8.91/hour) to anybody over 22 years of age, and even staff under 22 must be paid minimum wage. What IS it with people who read articles that state the events concerned didn't happen in the USA but STILL go on to assume they did?
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Yeah, they messed up. At least it was sorted, but we really do have this ridiculous need to publicly shame people nowadays. Should we put them in the stocks in the town square for us to mock and throw rotten vegetables at, as well? No one's perfect, mate, and while it offers no absolution, a majority of people on this dirt ball have done their fair share of shady s**t.
Load More Replies... It's the only good thing about social media; you can contact scammers and other trash in a heartbeat and make them aware that actions have consequences. Name them, shame them and if you need to: expose them with close ups of their faces. You can't invoke your right to privacy if you act like a stinking POS. After all, you can't be a turd and pretend you're a bouquet of roses.
I am still flabbergasted that they could even walk after having four bottles of wine between the two of them.
Amateur... ;-) But an upvote for use of the word "flabbergasted", I don't see that one enough.
Load More Replies... I say let's make him and blur her face out since she paid it off and she was most likely unaware soccer it was Valentine's day and I'm guessing he took her out? But I could be wrong
Load More Replies... FOUR bottles of wine between two people? I'm more concerned that one of them got behind the wheel after that.
If the comments are any indication, whichever one was the driver certainly wasn't up to driving safely.
Load More Replies... I just want to know why anyone would order a Coke when you have 4 bottles of wine!
Well it was no mistake since he revealed he had no funds till payday. They had dinner with full knowledge that they had no money to pay the bill! I am glad the restaurant called them out on social media & did not give them a free pass. Unlikely they will pull a stunt like this again.
For all we know, the girlfriend might have been the one who intended to pay to begin with, since obviously she had sufficient funds to do it the same night it was requested. They had four bottles of Zinfandel between them - they were probably so smashed when they finished all that, that they didn't even think about it, just got up and left.
Load More Replies... I bet the girlfriend who paid had the Thai curry and the bf had the steak and lobster.
If like me you’re confused why the headline says 244 and the bill has 179.20 then double check the currency.
There's about 700 calories in one bottle of Zinfandel, x4 is 2600+ calories in wine alone
Yup, I think that's the important takeaway here. ;-)
Load More Replies... ...and still no tip for the server. Glad it was paid but geesh, he made her pay? Yep, I don't think there will be a 2nd Valentine's for this guy!
...and they're still not in the USA, so they aren't required to tip. The "server" still gets paid.
Load More Replies... I have forgotten to pay on occasion. The first was at my regular. The server came over and asked where I was. The others correctly said I had left. She shrugged and said, "Oh well, I'll get him tomorrow." And she did.
They had all that and that was all it cost? Time to move! You can have halloumi fries and curry chicken at the same restaurant???
Yeah, good prices, great variety... They have burned a really wonderful restaurant!
Load More Replies... They had to pay their bill, and I suspect they won't be served there in future since the staff have CCTV of them. That'd be enough.
Load More Replies... In fairness, if I’d had four bottles of wine with my partner, over the course of one dinner, I’d have forgotten to pay the bill too.
You'd have to be very wealthy in order to forget a 200+ dinner tab. The fact that he didn't have the money to cover it immediately but had to wait until "he was paid", leads one to believe he never had the intention of paying to begin with. The couple was lucky law enforcement wasn't brought in immediately.
It's also really sad he didn't have the nerve to call and resolve it himself; he had, presumably, his girlfriend to take care of it. Lame dude!
Jeez, the only people I’ve seen drink 2 bottles of wine apiece and then drive home are Wisconsinites when I worked at the supper club🤦😪 I thought you guys really frowned on drunk driving in Europe, more so than here???
Tbf there's every chance they didn't drive, seems like a local pub/restaurant
Load More Replies... It is bad enough if your card is declined by error and you don't have any backup.... HOWEVER, to deliberately go out, order ALL this food &$$% knowing 100% that you literally do NOT have any $$ to pay your bill (& its not as if it was a $30 meal either!!!) We call this THEFT here! The owners were quite gracious about the whole situation. I certainly would not have been! AND apparently didn't even leave any $$ cash tip for the server! Hoping he is now on your "banned" list going forward!
Agreed, however, tipping is quite uncommon in the UK, or at least, not expected, compared to the US for example
Load More Replies... They obviously didn’t “forget” to pay it. Even if they were drunk. They had to wait to pay the bill until the guy got paid meaning they went in there knowing they weren’t going to pay it. At least he knew he wasn’t going to pay it, she may have not known but still.
My guy and I were both trying to save money this Valentine's Day. I had hoped to make a fancy dinner with some premium meat. Instead I made handmade biscuits to go with a cheaper meal. It was still delicious and we were still just as loving afterwards. Never ONCE did it cross our minds to eat a fancy meal out and run the check, even though we used to eat out frequently. Like. Not once. Never did we think, "We deserve something special, so let's steal it."
They didn't even ***tip*** on it? These people are DOUBLE trash (unless the UK is one of those countries in which waitstaff is ACTUALLY PAID a close-to-living wage, & tipping is not customary there?...if so, then I guess they are just regular trash , 🙄). They should show their faces & names, so that other restaurants KNOW what these two ARE, & will not serve them.
Tipping is *customary* in restaurants here, but at the same time, it is not wage theft to avoid doing so in the UK, because they *are* actually paid properly. Personally I find it disgusting that US restaurants get away with not even paying a minimum wage, let alone a living wage, to their staff. So yeah, I'd have agreed with you, if they'd been in the States. Since they're not, the staff do at least get minimum wage - which is £8.91 per hour, currently about US$12.11, for anybody over 22.
Load More Replies... Even after they paid I would have put a clear video clip of them up on social media to warn other businesses to be on the watch for them. If they tried this once, they will do it again. Heck, they may already be serial dine and dashers.
After 4 bottles of Zin, I suspect it's more likely they were just smashed!
Load More Replies... Why FFS convert 180 quid to US-dollars? Conversion course is subject to change, and most people world wide will know GBP as well!? I don't get it.
Sadly most Americans dont know the relative worth of any other country so any site with a large US audience does need to convert based on what it would have been on the day of the incident.
Load More Replies... 4 bottles of wine and a coke.... I bet someone had 4 bottles to themselves
Wat about the tip!? wait-do they actually pay servers a regular wage in EU? cuz if that happened 2 me in the US wen I was a server I wouldve FLIPPED OUT! We get zero dollar paychecks here so tips are our only take home pay & that would b a $45 tip normally cuz esp on V-day typically its 20%. Usually we get 18% average. Sometimes u work & might only have 4 tables all night so if just ONE doesnt tip that means you've lost 1/4 of ur income 4 a whole day. The restaurant only has 2 make up 4 it up 2 the amt of min wage if ur earnings 4 the MONTH dont add up 2 min wage. It might actually be 4 the wk, not sure, but a month is wat a manager told me. So that means even if u make zero in tips 3 days straight, as long as u average $9 an hr (or watever ur state min wage is) 4 the wk (or month?) then the restaurant doesnt have 2 pay u any xtra 2 make up 4 it. Its illegal but sum places make servers PAY the bill 4 theives too! Sum of many reasons I quit bartending/serving
Yeah, its not customary to tip in the UK unless your server goes above your expectations and even then its not expected.
Load More Replies... I see comments about "if they can't afford to go out..." But I see it differently. We would do well to learn that many of these establishments are too expensive for most people. I don't need to impress anyone with a 240.00 meal. I'm more aligned with someone who will be comfortable with me cooking them a delicious dinner for a sixth or an eighth of the price. No one needs the pressures that come with a 240. dinner tab. No one needs all that red meat, and no one needs four bottles of wine between two people. It's not romantic at all
Well, at least the scumbags have terribly cheap taste in wine. If the mark up at the restaurant only gets the bottle to 30 dollars US, that is some disgusting gut rot right there.
Or, y'know, there might just be local laws about what they're allowed to do in that sense. Not every country and profession is out for every penny they can bilk out of someone.
Load More Replies... They sound like an older couple. They may well have simply forgotten. Four bottles of wine can cause that, as well.
I'm more surprised they were charged for peppercorn! Like we just keep it on the tables on this side of the pond.
I did a runner from a restaurant when I was in my late teens / early twenties. Felt bad about it for a number of years. When I was in my 30's I went back for a meal, called the owner (same guy for years) over and explained what I did and paid the amount (plus a big tip) owing. He actually remembered me doing the runner!
I'm a wino and a pro at that I guess because I can put down 2 bottles (750ml) myself easy, many times finishing a 3rd too and not being so shitfaced that I'm completely blottoed. I like Zins, Rosés and Moscatos that are higher octane, like 13% or higher. I'm not a large person either and not a frequent pee-er when I drink so I'm retaining that alc for a while. I definitely can't drive after that much but I can still walk pretty well and I'd still be aware enough to remember to pay for a meal! I don't drink every day but a few times a month with friends hanging out, eating, we'll get pretty toasted! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷😋🙃 Haven't had a hangover in a long time either and headaches are a problem for me when I'm sober!
If you have ever worked as a server then you leave a tip. A big one. ALWAYS!! You work it out before you order, you make sure you can afford the food, booze AND a tip before you go out. Wait staff are not always paid minimum wage, they never were in the olden days. Its classy to leave a tip, it makes you feel good, you let yourself feel generous and you help someone. My uncle was single quite a bit and ate out all the time. Even at a little Diner, he left a tip for everyone, even a small one for the teenager who cleared the table, and the cook. They all Gave him good service because he gave them a couple bucks AND a great deal of Respect.
Wrong, Janet. This happened in England, where it is 100% illegal not to pay the national living wage (£8.91/hour) to anybody over 22 years of age, and even staff under 22 must be paid minimum wage. What IS it with people who read articles that state the events concerned didn't happen in the USA but STILL go on to assume they did?
Load More Replies... Yeah, they messed up. At least it was sorted, but we really do have this ridiculous need to publicly shame people nowadays. Should we put them in the stocks in the town square for us to mock and throw rotten vegetables at, as well? No one's perfect, mate, and while it offers no absolution, a majority of people on this dirt ball have done their fair share of shady s**t.
Load More Replies... It's the only good thing about social media; you can contact scammers and other trash in a heartbeat and make them aware that actions have consequences. Name them, shame them and if you need to: expose them with close ups of their faces. You can't invoke your right to privacy if you act like a stinking POS. After all, you can't be a turd and pretend you're a bouquet of roses.
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