Family Flee Restaurant Without Paying And Then 'Threaten To Burn It Down If Pic Is Made Public'

Smokin' Joe's, a popular eatery in Guisborough co-owned by Joe Smith, recently faced an unsettling incident.

Joe took to social media seeking assistance after a family left the restaurant without paying their £68.64 bill on Tuesday (1 August).

Credit: Smokin' Joe's The almost £70 unpaid bill is a blow for the eatery.

The family, consisting of a man, woman, and two kids, ordered an impressive spread including cheese-loaded nachos, pulled pork with BBQ sauce, a smash stack XXL premium burger, two sides, a dirty southerner bad bwoi burger with two sides, halloumi fries, regular chicken poppers, and three portions of chicken tenders from the kids' menu.

Despite relishing the feast, the family pledged to return later for payment, but they never turned up, leaving the restaurant in a state of disbelief.

When the bill was presented to the couple, they claimed to have no cash and only one bank card that didn't work with their online banking app.

Although they appeared apologetic, promising to return the next day to settle the payment, they never showed up.

Smokin' Joe's, a highly-rated restaurant with a 4.6 rating on Google Reviews, has been facing challenges due to rising energy and food suppliers costs, making unpaid bills particularly burdensome in the current climate.

Credit: Smokin' Joe's Co-owner Joe is refusing to back down.

In an attempt to recover the owed money, the co-owner took to the eatery's Facebook page, urging the woman to get in touch or face having her image shared on social media.

The post read: "To the lady who couldn't pay last night but swore blind she would be back today to pay her almost £70 bill

You have till 9pm before your face is all over the internet!"

Coincidentally or not, the woman reached out to the owner, expressing apologies and stating her intention to pay.

She explained that she had encountered problems with online banking, which had prevented her from settling the bill earlier.

Credit: Smokin' Joe's Owner Joe has since made a series of Facebook posts regarding the alleged theft

However, despite her communication, the owner decided to follow through on his initial warning as the post gained traction on social media.

He posted an image of the woman on Facebook with her face blurred, issuing a deadline of 48 hours for her to make the payment.

The co-owner threatened to share an unedited version of the photo if the matter remained unresolved within the given time frame.

"So sticky Vicky ya got just over 24 hours to cough up," the post said.

As the situation unfolded on social media, some followers speculated that it might be an elaborate marketing tactic.

However, Joe stood firm, asserting that it was indeed a genuine predicament. He emphasized that he intended to find a way to navigate the difficult circumstance and make the best out of it.

Despite the skepticism from some, Joe remained resolute in addressing the issue at hand with transparency and sincerity.

He posted about the threat - that has since been reported to police - writing: "The lady contacted us saying it was out of order to post a picture and saying she is not going to pay. She said her brothers would burn down the premises over the phone. I think we have been more than fair."

Cleveland Police have officially confirmed that they received a report regarding the incident where threats were made during the dine-and-dash incident at Smokin' Joe's.

The police stated that they are currently investigating the matter to determine the appropriate course of action.

As the situation unfolds, the authorities work diligently to ensure a fair resolution.