A Cardiff restaurant owner has voiced his despair after half of its diners fail to show up for Valentine's Day bookings.
The Grand Bar and Kitchen in the city centre expressed their disappointment on social media after half of their tables became no-shows, without letting restaurant staff know.
Rob Toogood, the owner of the Westgate Street restaurant said that despite no shows being a common theme in the hospitality industry, it was particularly difficult on Valentine's Day as it is usually a busy night.
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Rob said: "Your staff are ready, your chef is ready and you have all your stock in. It's a big disappointment to lose out on so much trade.
"It's so easy to contact people nowadays and just send a text. Six out of 12 tables didn't turn up last night.
"I've seen similar things across social media so it does seem like a bit of a problem. We buy the stock and arrange staffing based on our bookings.
"When we have half as many bookings, we've got twice as many staff around. The chef is making half as many meals and all that fresh stock is a waste."
Rob says when it comes to cancelling, he doesn't mind how customers choose to contact or how much time it is until their booking, as long as they let the restaurant know.
He said: "It's just the courtesy to pick up the phone and let people know. We understand totally that plans change and anything can happen. Just do your best to let the venue know they can arrange alternative bookings."
The Grand Hotel was built in 1886 on the site of the original harbour in Cardiff.
The Grand Hotel was a working hotel until the late 1990’s with the infamous popular Sloanes Nightclub and Green Parrot pub underneath i
Now closed, it has become The Grand Bar and Kitchen, which create their food using local produce and a 'modern Welsh twist'.
Some of the original features of the Grand Hotel can still be seen upstairs in the restaurant.
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