14% of Brits have intentionally left a restaurant without paying, reveals new research

21st March 2011, 11:02am

New research by VoucherCodes.co.uk website has revealed that one in seven (14%) Brits have intentionally left a restaurant without paying which presents a serious problem for restaurateurs.

According to the poll of 3,000 UK consumers, the number one reason for these 'restaurant runaways' comes down to poor customer service, with over a third (39%) blaming the waiting staff for not returning to take payment.

Additionally, more than a quarter (26%) of those surveyed justified their deceitfulness by saying they were dissatisfied with their food, and 2% of diners refused to pay the bill because the restaurant staff were rude to them.

The UK's top reasons to dine and dash:

1. Waiting staff never came to take payment
2. Dissatisfaction with dining experience
3. Saw an opportunity to leave and took it
4. Didn't have enough money
5. The staff were rude
6. Evacuated due to fire alarm and never paid

The UK's top restaurant pet hates:

1. Inattentive/rude waiting staff
2. Service charge being automatically added to bill
3. Being made to pay for tap water
4. Waiting staff taking plates away before everyone at the table is finished
5. Being asked for the table back so another sitting can take place

Co-founder Duncan Jennings said: "Today dining out is cheaper and more accessible than ever before, meaning people are eating out more regularly and are able to treat themselves to a meal out for less. However it seems that in some cases people are taking moneysaving to the extreme and cutting out paying altogether!"

Adam Wills, director of Kopapa restaurant in London's Seven Dials, added: "It's very frustrating when someone leaves without paying; at Kopapa we build a relationship with our customers as soon as they sit down, and aim to provide them with the best service, food and overall experience as standard. When some diners don't meet their obligation to pay for this, we see it as a breach of trust that has a knock-on effect both on our business and staff morale."

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