Police were called to a prominent Dundee restaurant after a group of Travellers caused mayhem and refused to pay their bill.
The manager of the Dil’se, in Perth Road, said the party of Irish-accented diners were “a nightmare” because of their shouting, swearing at staff, throwing food around and leaving before handing over money for their meals.
“Their behaviour was terrible and when they left we were £85 short,” said Tarikul Islam. “It was so bad that we called the police.”
The Dil’se was busy with customers enjoying Easter Monday meals when the group of 10 Travellers arrived.
Distinctive because of their voices and loud banter, their boisterous presence was entertaining for a spell but grew more noisy and unpleasant.
Restaurant staff feared the deteriorating situation was getting out of control so they telephoned Mr Islam, who was off duty, and he came in.
“My staff said they had been shouting and swearing at them, and the Travellers had been throwing their food around like they were having a big joke. They had made their part of the restaurant a mess and they had been drinking heavily.
“I asked them to behave but they just ignored me. It was so bad that two couples at other tables got up and left without finishing their meals.
“Then another couple came in, saw the mess and disturbance and walked right back out again. This was turning people away and we were losing trade.”
When the waiter presented the bill for a total of £335, the original group of 10 had shrunk to four. It appeared the other six had gone outside, apparently for a cigarette or to fetch something from a car, but did not return.
“That was why I called the police,” said Mr Islam. “One of the Travellers even said to me that they are Travellers and they didn’t have money!
“I told him that if they didn’t have money they shouldn’t go to a restaurant for a meal. The police spoke to the four people who were left and they agreed to hand over £250. That was all they money they said they had, so we had to accept it.
“It was a bad experience. Rather than serving meals, my staff had to spend some time clearing up all the food that the Travellers had thrown around. I’m sorry for our other customers.”
A police spokeswoman said officers were called to the restaurant because of a row about a bill. They spoke to two couples and, after cash was handed over, the couples left in a taxi and the matter was resolved.
Police were put on stand-by the previous night after receiving a report that there may be trouble between two sets of travelling people at the Riverside Inn in Riverside Drive. Manager Bruce Sheridan received a call on Sunday afternoon warning that two travelling people’s families who didn’t get on were heading for his restaurant.
“We’ve had trouble from Travellers before so I called the police,” he explained. “Two groups did come but they behaved perfectly well and there was no problem.”
A large group of Travellers were still camped on roadways off Jack Martin Way in the Claverhouse industrial estate last night. They arrived last Tuesday from another part of the estate where they left an estimated 150 tons of rubbish and debris, which cost several thousand pounds to clear.