Staff at the Red Rose Lounge, a curry restaurant in Waterlooville, Hampshire, have slammed the man's behaviour, and shared images taken on an employee's phone of the man
05:29, 01 Jan 2026Updated 06:51, 01 Jan 2026
Dramatic photographs capture the wild showdown between brave restaurant staff and a man suspected of leaving without paying his bill.
It is also alleged the diner punched an employee and a have-a-go hero passer-by who tried to stop the man. When the guest left Red Rose Lounge, a curry restaurant in Waterlooville, Hampshire, without settling his tender, staff followed him onto the street.
But things got heated and footage taken by an employee on their mobile phone shows the man — sporting a blue hooded jumper — appearing to throw punches at a staff member. The fiery interaction is understood to have happened on Monday December 29 just yards from the curry house, which was open on Christmas Day this year.
Two members of staff and another diner followed the man outside. The trio pleaded with the man to pay his bill whilst questioning his actions. However, the situation quickly became fraught.
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A spokesperson for the Red Rose Lounge said: "It's a shame the person had a meal with us and he ran away without pay (sic). When our colleagues tried to stop him he punched one of our staff and the local pedestrian tried to stop him and he tried to punch the lady as well. Anyway we hope he got home safe."
The footage captures the man, at one point try to hit the camera out of the recording staff's hands. During the interaction, workers insist that they served the customer "nicely" before he fled without paying. After the situation turns aggressive, the footage stops and the staff let the man walk off.
But defiant management have now shared the clip on Facebook in a bid to try to trace the diner. Regulars have commented on the post, jumping to the defence of the restaurant. One said: "Out of order, pay for your food." Another shared: "The customer needs to own what he has done." A third posted: "Such a shame, businesses are finding it really tough as it is." Hampshire Police have been approached for comment regarding the altercation.
It came after police in Cornwall investigated a "dine and dash" group that fled a restaurant without paying a £319 bill — after saying their were going for a cigarette. Godrevy View restaurant, at Tregenna Castle resort, Cornwall, say they were targeted by a group of four individuals. After accumulating a £319 bill on food and drink, the group left without paying.
Tregenna Castle were able to share CCTV screenshots of the individuals responsible on social media to raise awareness and hopefully prevent similar incidents occurring. It has also sent them to Daily Mirror to extend the appeal.