Family who 'did a runner on pub bill' allegedly hit another restaurant

EXCLUSIVE – ‘I’m livid… they clearly know what they are doing’: Indian restaurant owner claims family who ‘did a runner on £215 bill at Cornish gastropub’ did ‘the same thing to him just weeks earlier’

• Family who ‘did a runner’ at pub in Newlyn is accused of doing the same in Essex

The owner of an award-winning Indian restaurant today claimed that a family who ‘did a runner’ on a £215 bill at a gastropub did the same to him just weeks earlier.

Karim Ullah, 50, told MailOnline that he was gobsmacked after seeing pictures and CCTV of the family who allegedly ran up the bill at The Fisherman’s Arms, Newlyn, in Penzance, Cornwall on Sunday and walked off without paying after saying they were going out for a cigarette.

Mr Ullah said that he immediately recognised two of those in the pictures as being part of a group that he claims ran up a bill of £182.15 at his Brohmon restaurant in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex on April 29 and left without paying after saying they were stepping out for a cigarette.

He fumed: ‘As soon as I saw the images, I knew that it was the same people who did a runner from my restaurant. I’ll never forget them, especially the man with the bushy beard, who I spoke to and the woman in a denim jacket.

‘I’m disgusted by what they did to me and what they did to this pub. I actually rang the pub to express my sympathies and tell them that the same thing happened to me. These people are scum bags who should be stopped because it’s a horrible way to behave.’

Karim Ullah, 50, (pictured) has claimed that a family who ‘did a runner’ on a £215 bill at a gastropub in Newlyn did the same to him just weeks earlier at his Brohmon restaurant in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex

The Fisherman’s Arms posted CCTV footage and grabs on social media (pictured) calling out the diners who it claimed stayed for about three hours, had three courses and drank cocktails before walking out

Mr Ullah said that he immediately recognised two of those in the pictures as being part of a group that he claims ran up a bill of £182.15 at his restaurant on April 29 and left without paying after saying they were stepping out for a cigarette

Mr Ullah said that a group of four people came to his restaurant at around 8pm on 29 April. Along with ordering starters of tandoori lamb chops and tandoori spiced chicken they also ordered two expensive bottles of wine, which came to more than £50 and several beers.

He claimed: ‘After the starters, they said they were all going out for a cigarette. There was nothing about their behaviour that made me suspicious, and they were just like any other customers that we had in on that Saturday night. The man with the beard said that it was his mother’s birthday and they had come to my restaurant to celebrate.

‘After about five minutes they came back in and ordered their mains of Lamb Biryani and two-house special lamb curries called Made in Stanstead.’

After eating their food, the group then ordered desserts but told waiters that they were first stepping out for a cigarette.

Mr Ullah said: ‘Clearly they have the same modus operandi. They go out for a cigarette and then don’t come back. They had been gone for around five minutes and I went out to see where they were and briefly spoke with them.

Mr Ullah (pictured) said that he informed police and provided them with CCTV footage from a pub opposite of the group smoking beside his restaurant as he does not have any installed

‘They said that they were standing away from the restaurant because they didn’t want to be anti-social and smoke near it. So, I came back in. Five minutes later I went back out and they had gone. That was it and I was left £182.15 out of pocket, which is a hefty amount for a small restaurant like ours.’

Mr Ullah said that he informed police and provided them with CCTV footage from a pub opposite of the group smoking beside his restaurant as he does not have any installed.

After examining the footage, police later informed him that they would not be taking any further action.

He said: ‘I’ve informed the police that this same group have done it again and have sent them the images from the pub in Cornwall. I’m livid that this happened to me or to any other business owner.

‘This group clearly know what they are doing. They were very relaxed and calm about walking out for a cigarette and have probably done this many times before. It’s obvious that they are experienced at running off without paying the bill and the police should take action.’

The Fisherman’s Arms pub shared CCTV footage which showed these punters walking out 

The pub shared close up images of these diners as they claimed a group walked out without paying

Another close up image the pub shared on social media as they wrote about the incident

Last year, Mr Ullah’s restaurant was named Best Restaurant in Essex at the prestigious British Restaurant Awards which took place at the Ritz Hotel.

Brohmon specialises in serving traditional Bengali cuisine alongside more traditional Indian dishes.

Mr Ullah opened his 38-seater restaurant three years ago.

He said: ‘We’re a small restaurant and being robbed of £182 is not easy to take. We’ve had a very difficult time because of Covid and being cheated out of money like this, well it’s a real kick in the guts.’

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