Great British Menu star Paul Ainsworth (pictured) has become the second celebrity chef to hit out at diners who failed to show up for reservations at his Cornish pub
Great British Menu star Paul Ainsworth has become the second celebrity chef to hit out at diners who failed to show up for reservations at his Cornish pub.
The chef, well-known as a regular guest on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, today took to social media to slam 27 diners for failing to turn up after making a booking at his pub The Mariners, in Rock.
It comes after fellow TV chef Tom Kerridge also hit out at ‘selfish’ customers who did not show up for bookings at his London eaterie this week.
Both of the chefs’ comments come less than two weeks after pubs and restaurants and the rest of the lockdown-hit dining sector were allowed to re-open after three months of closures due to government’s coronavirus measures.
Speaking about the no-show customers in a post on Instagram today, Mr Ainsworth, 41, told his followers ‘disappointed doesn’t cut it’.
He said: ‘After the efforts our teams have put in to making our restaurants a safe environment and the money we have spent to make it possible. Disappointed doesn’t even cut it.
‘To those 27 people who thought it was OK not to show tonight and that no one would miss you. You are very wrong. We were ready for you.
The chef, well-known as a regular guest on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, today took to social media to slam 27 diners for failing to turn up after booking a seat his pub The Mariners, in Rock (pictured)
Speaking about the no-show customers in a post on Instagram today, Mr Ainsworth, 41, told his followers ‘disappointed doesn’t cut it’
Sharing a text from the pub’s manager on Instagram, he said: ‘After the efforts our teams have put in to making our restaurants a safe environment and the money we have spent to make it possible. Disappointed doesn’t even cut it.’
‘The restaurant rota had been written for you. The team were waiting to welcome and take care of you.
‘Such a shame you thought this was an OK thing to do.’
In the post he added that he currently employs 132 staff who he said rely on the business to pay their mortgages, rent and bills.
He added: ‘The number of people you are affecting is far greater than the 132 employed.
I believe education is the route to many big issues in life and this has been an issue in hospitality for a very long time.
‘Hopefully this post can help, even if one person reads this and thinks, I’m actually that person, then that’s a start.
‘This post is insight to the real cost of a NO SHOW.’
The post comes after Mr Kerridge took to social media to slam customers who failed to show reservations at his upmarket London restaurant.
The famous chef launched into an angry rant on his Instagram profile after 27 people failed to show for a reservation at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill on Saturday night.
He pointed out that the hospitality industry is on the verge of collapse and by not showing up, the diners had put the jobs of restaurant staff at risk.
Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge (pictured) has taken to social media to slam customers who failed to show reservations at his upmarket London restaurant
He wrote: ‘To the 27 people that booked @kerridgesbandg and then failed to turn up on a Saturday night…This industry, like many others is on the verge of collapse.
‘Your behaviour is disgraceful, shortsighted and down right unhelpful…all of you ‘no shows’ in all restaurants up and down the country and adding to the issues already being faced…YOU are putting peoples jobs more at risk…
‘We put staff levels to the number of covers booked and when you fail to turn up, it now costs us, which in turn will force very uncomfortable and hard decisions about staffing levels.
The famous chef launched into an angry rant on his Instagram profile after 27 people failed to show for a reservation at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill on Saturday night. Above, inside Tom Kerridge’s Bar and Grill
‘You are the worst kind of guest, and that is ‘selfish.’ I hope you have a good look at yourselves…’
Kerridge opened Kerridge’s Bar and Grill two years ago in the Corinthia Hotel just off London’s Trafalgar Square.
The restaurant boasts a swanky interior with an expensive menu including fish and chips for £32.50, inspired by Kerridge’s childhood in Gloucester.