A popular restaurant in Cork has clarified why they charged a booker €250 for cancelling their meal at short notice because their child needed to be taken to hospital.
Michelin-star restaurant Bastion in Kinsale responded to a complaint which accused them of taking the sum from a customer's card.
They said the customer gave them 30 minutes notice that they couldn't attend due to a "family emergency", Cork Beo reports.
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Addressing the complaint directly in writing, co-owner Helen McDonald explained that the establishment "did not charge you for nothing". She added: "we charged you sir because you gave us 30 minutes' notice for a cancellation for two people and your table sat there empty all night with all the food that was prepared for you and your wife put in the bin".
The eatery only has 12 tables and can seat a maximum of 36 customers at full capacity so the award-winning spot is normally booked up for long periods well in advance. Tasting menus are priced at €130 per person according to their website.
Helen also wrote that they tried to see if the customer could find someone else to take the booking to avoid the cancellation fee, but nobody was found.
She continued: "I phoned you back and asked if you had any family or friends who might like to avail of the booking to avoid having to charge the cancellation fee and it would help us fill our 12 guests we do per evening and contribute to the atmosphere. You said no that there was no one that could take it at such short notice however you felt we should be able to fill your booking at short notice but you couldn't.
"You then offered me your voucher details to take payment for the cancellation charge. We did indeed redeem your voucher towards the cancellation fee as you requested, so you can understand why I was surprised to see this review.
"You phoned with the voucher details and then abuse us when we use them.
"I understand you had a family emergency to deal with on the night however we apply one rule for all guests. We don't pick and choose who we charge the cancellation fee to as I don't think that is fair."
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