‘Dine and dash’ at Wales pub as owner posts pic of ‘culprit’ after £185 meal

A Pembrokeshire pub has warned others to be on their guard after a ‘dine and dash’ incident involving a group of eight who are alleged to have enjoyed a £185 meal for free

A pub has warned other establishments to stay alert after allegedly falling victim to a “dine and dash” scam. The Ship, located in the Pembrokeshire village of Solva, claims it was left without payment for a £185 meal served to a group of eight last Friday evening.

Publican Simon Green explained: “That was probably about half our profit for the evening. Our mark-up on food and drink is very low and we’re an independent – it’s just me and my wife – so it’s hard. This kind of behaviour can put you out of business.”

The establishment posted an image of one of the suspected offenders on Facebook, with the caption: “This delightful person and his family had £185 worth of food and drink for free.”

Mr Green revealed the party of four grown-ups and four youngsters arrived at approximately 6pm and all ordered meals, with some opting for three courses. The main dishes featured burgers and fish and chips, reports Wales Online.

Around 8pm the entire party suddenly departed apart from one gentleman, according to Mr Green, who explained: “He made an attempt to pay with his phone, using Apple Pay, and there was no money on there. He told us he would be coming back the following day to pay, but he didn’t.”

When Mr Green confronted the individual, he supposedly replied: “Call police then.”

Mr Green chose not to file a report as he didn’t anticipate any action would be taken. His intention behind the social media post was to caution other pubs to request payment in advance if they harbour any doubts, he further explained.

The Ship, a pub with roots tracing back to the 1800s, boasts an average four-star rating from 179 Google reviews and is celebrated for its real ales. The Greens have been at the helm of this establishment for eight years.

In 2023 a pair of pub-goers were hunted down after allegedly leaving a pub without paying for their meal.

The Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn, Cornwall, became a target for dine and dashers and had already been hit by a family racking up a £215 bill without paying earlier that year.

And then it happened again, with staff taking to social media to post CCTV images of the alleged dine and dashers.