A restaurant boss has hit out at no-show customers after 34 people failed to turn up in one weekend - with the business forced to turn away dozens of walk-ins.
The North Star in Maindy, Cardiff, turned away between 50 and 60 people as they were fully booked on Sunday - but 34 who had a reservation failed to show up and did not inform the restaurant beforehand.
Owners shared their disappointment on social media as a quarter of bookings were no-shows on the first Sunday service since the hospitality industry was allowed to reopen indoors.
David Rowlands, owner of the pub and restaurant which is renowned for its Sunday roasts, said no-shows are "devastating to our small business", Wales Online reports.
On Sunday, he wrote on Facebook : "Today we have had 34 no-shows. Our small kitchen team has worked tirelessly day and night to ensure we have enough food prepped and we have turned down several bookings and walk-ins to ensure menu choices for our booked guests.
"This is devastating to our small business, if you book a table with us and cannot make it, please call us so we can let someone else have your table.
"This is the toughest period this industry has faced and we have lost hundreds of thousands during the lockdowns with very limited support. Please help us stay open."
Luckily for the business, David's post attracted support from dozens of customers who made bookings or ordered takeaway meals - so food did not go to waste.
On Facebook, a person commented: "That disgusting. Might have to take pre orders and payments to stop it."
Another added: "That’s really bad, it takes 2 mins to cancel and gives other people the chance to eat at your fabulous place."
One more wrote: "Charge a deposit. I’m a hairdresser and since we have done that everyone turns up or cancels . Good luck!"
David, who took over the well-known pub in August 2020, said: "The post really helped. We had so many people wanting to support us and messaging us or ringing for a takeaway or to come in for lunch - we managed to get rid of our stock.
"It's still difficult, we're a small independent team - there's just us here, everywhere is facing a staffing crisis at the moment."
Throughout the coronavirus lockdown, The North Star ran a Sunday lunch takeaway service.
But because he took over in August, David said the business is not eligible for the reopening grant that many hospitality businesses could claim.
He said: "We've had next to no funding but we've managed to hang on in there.
"It's really difficult when you do the speculative thing of buying the food for 120 covers and then you're looking at all the leftovers. In some pubs they'd then use those leftovers and turn them into specials on the Monday but I always think it's best fresh so we don't do that."
He also said no-shows are "disheartening and demotivating for the team" because they have to go home early and earn less than they normally would.
But despite being upset at the no-shows, David said he was moved by the support of customers after his Facebook post.
The restaurant owner added that while many people had told him to take deposits in order to protect the business against no-shows, this is not viable for many independent venues.
At the weekend, another popular pub in Cardiff, The City Arms, also said they had experienced people not fulfilling bookings.
On Saturday they posted on Facebook: "Absolutely brilliant having everyone back to see us. The people not turning up for booking though are decimating us. Please, Please let us know..... Times are difficult. Thank you."
Last week, Natalie Isaac, Director of Asador44 said they had 20 missed bookings across two venues.
