Furious owners of a Midlothian restaurant have warned a couple who walked out without paying the bill that they face being exposed on social media.
Like many struggling businesses across the country, Itihaas Restaurant had just reopened to patrons this month after a lockdown was enforced across the UK in March.
But the coronavirus-hit Indian restaurant, in Dalkeith, has been forced to take to social media in a desperate appeal after customers walked out without paying the bill.
The couple had enjoyed a meal at the restaurant on Saturday night but failed to pay up and have been caught on camera leaving. They have been told they have until Monday to come forward.
In a post on the businesses' Facebook page, the owners said: "The couple dined on table 21 on Saturday night walked way with out paying bill if are you reading this post you have until Monday 2.00pm to come back and pay your bill or both of your very good quality CCTV footage will be published on Facebook and social media.
"We open the restaurant after four long months of uncertainty and you have spoiled it. So do the right thing."
Many locals supported the move, condemning the incident as "shocking".
"That's an awful thing to do under any circumstances but after all the uncertainty you and the rest of hospitality have had, it's even more so", one person pointed out.
Though after facing some backlash with some insisting that it may have been a "mistake", the restaurant explained they were simply frustrated after experiencing "a very difficult period", and said "customers doing things like this can be extremely hard to take".
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They added: "We have the customer details through track and trace however want to give an opportunity for them to come forward before having to go down that route.
"We apologise for any offence caused to anyone and hope people fully understand we are trying to survive as a business."
