Couple leaves £231.30 bill unpaid at Essex restaurant

A couple is alleged to have consumed a large meal and multiple drinks before leaving a restaurant in Essex without paying their bill, an incident the establishment's manager believes was planned. The pair visited The Halfway House in Brentwood on May 16 and accrued a bill of £231.30.

According to general manager Deanne Perkins, the couple requested to be moved to a table near the restaurant's rear exit after being seated, a detail she said suggested premeditation. They then ordered a substantial meal including several starters, two steaks, sides, ice cream, and 14 Baby Guinness shots. Perkins expressed surprise that the couple finished all the food, noting the restaurant's large portion sizes.

Security footage from the restaurant shows the woman leaving through the front door while appearing to be on a phone call. The man is then seen looking around before exiting through the rear door. Exterior cameras captured both individuals running across the car park together.

Perkins said staff discovered the unpaid bill when reviewing the footage later that day. The restaurant reported the incident to police and shared the video online to alert other local businesses. Following the online...