Restaurant owner overwhelmed by community support after 'rude' customers refuse to pay for food
A Thai restaurant owner has been 'overwhelmed' by the support shown following a 'nasty' incident.
Staff at The Laab on Market Place were left 'heartbroken' on Saturday (August 30) after a group of customers refused to pay for the food they had eaten.
The customers claimed the service was poor and also made rude comments about the waiting staff.
Kipsy Day, the restaurant's owner, said: "It was nasty and disgusting really.
"Why would you look down on people like that?
"If we were an English restaurant, would you have treated us the same way?
"I don't want to let this go, I don't want them to do this to any other restaurants."
Kipsy wasn't at the restaurant on Saturday evening but was able to watch the incident unfold on CCTV.
The group of six men visited the restaurant at around 6pm, ordering £75 worth of alcohol and over £100 worth of food.
Kipsy admits the mains were delayed, however, notes that the group did eat the food when it arrived.
One member even denied having received his prawn massaman curry, with the chef making him a second one only to find the original dish still on the table with the prawns picked out.
The group, spurred on by the aforementioned member, then refused to pay for any of the food they had eaten, even when offered a discount.
On top of this, the customers made rude comments about both Thailand and the restaurant's staff.
"I feel so bad for my chef. He came out, he wanted to try talk to them but he doesn't speak English very well," Kipsy said.
"He said sorry, sorry, sorry but they were still shouting and swearing at him.
"My chef couldn't sleep that night."
Kipsy posted about the incident on social media and was flooded with messages of support from other independent businesses in Macclesfield, including Yas Bean and Rolph & Co.
This outpouring of support has helped raise her spirits, showing that she is not alone.
Kipsy said: "After the upsetting incident at The Laab, when a group of six men refused to pay their food bill, I was truly heartbroken for my team and myself.
"But in the middle of this disappointment, I've been overwhelmed with kindness, care, and support from our local community.
"The messages, calls, and encouragement from local people have given me and my staff so much strength.
"I want to say a big thank you to everyone standing with us - your support means more than words can say.
"Together we show that community spirit is stronger than any negativity."
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