A group of bill dodgers left a £108 tab unpaid at an award-winning Indian restaurant.
Cafe Spice, which is in Darlington, County Durham, has released CCTV footage of three customers leaving the restaurant in Clark's Yard without paying for their sizeable order.
The curry house is well-known for its high quality Indian fare, earning an award for the best North East curry house in 2022.
The three men had racked up a bill of £108.85, which included chicken madras, chicken tikka masala, lamb biryani, pilau rice, garlic and peshwaari naans, tandoori chicken and poppadoms with a pickle tray.
They also whacked on a tray of Cobra beers and double Jack Daniels and Cokes.
Father-and-son owners Brian and Ishy Miah shared pictures of the thieving trio along with a simple statement: "Three men left today without paying their bill.
"Police will be informed if the bill is not paid today. Please share." Cafe Spice did not wish to add anything further to this comment.
You can see the full order on the receipt in the image below.
The post has been shared widely across social media, with hundreds sharing the restaurant's plea, reports Teeside Live.
One person commented: "Disgusting. Why do some people find this funny?"
This isn't the first incident of this kind for the popular Darlington restaurant this year. Back in February, the venue was forced to release CCTV footage after two of its customers left without paying their bill.
The pair drank vodka, rum, and wine, spending £83.05, before telling staff they were going outside to vape and never returning to settle the bill.
Last month in Yarm, another duo racked up a hefty bill at a Michelin-star restaurant before doing a runner.
The slap-up meal at Muse, in Yarm, Teesside, came to £150 but the pair are said to have "just got up and left" without paying their tab.
CCTV stills of the alleged culprits were shared on the restaurant's Facebook page on Friday morning and a deadline of tomorrow was given before police would be contacted.
The two men can be seen sat on a table outside the venue in shorts and T-shirts.
They had dined at around 8.25pm yesterday, according to the post which was titled: "HELP NEEDED."
It said: "Please can the two guys that just got up and left without paying their £150 bill at 8.25pm on Thursday 19th May please contact us.
"We just want the bill settled so we don’t have to take this matter any further.
"We don’t really want to make a fuss so give us a call on 01642 788558.
"If anyone recognises them please urge them to get in touch to settle the bill.
"If we have not received payment by 12 noon Saturday we will be informing the police."
The Facebook post attracted more than 290 shares in less than 12 hours, with one commenter branding the incident "shocking".
