A Cardiff chef who gave the proceeds of a £1,000 bill to a member of staff after she was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” from a table of rich diners has spoken about how the last few days have “been hell”. But he said he could not be more proud of the way his employee has handled herself during the ensuing furore.
Last week Lee Skeet, who runs Cora in the Pontcanna area of the Welsh capital, called out an “arrogant” party of six who dined at his restaurant and labelled them “rich people who think they can treat people like crap”. They racked up the biggest bill he has ever seen on one table at Cora, which included the purchase of several bottles of wine.
After they had left the restaurant his staff member who runs the front of house at the venue told him how they had mistreated her throughout the evening. You can read more about the incident here and y ou can get the latest WalesOnline newsletters emailed to you directly for free by signing up here.
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Mr Skeet sent an email to the contact he had for the group making clear his disgust at their behaviour. He initially offered to refund them the £1,000 they had paid for their food and drinks but minus £100 which he intended to give to his 22-year-old employee as she did not receive a tip despite her ordeal. He then changed his mind and informed them that in fact he would give the entire sum directly to her, saying that she “deserves it for putting up with them”.
On Sunday Mr Skeet said that he and his emplyee have endured the hardest few days of their working lives but commended his staff member’s “class and integrity”. Posting on Instagram he wrote: “Bit of a whirlwind few days and definitely the hardest of my work life by a million miles. Since our drama at the restaurant [she] has hit the news all over the world, rightly so. It’s been hell for us both but I couldn’t be more proud of how [she] has handled herself.
"She’s talked confidently and with class to countless journalists on TV and radio, whilst not missing a minute of running the restaurant to the highest level. I’ve just hidden away and cooked. This has all happened because of her class and integrity and I’m in awe of the young woman she is. Well done mate. You are literally an inspiration to so many people.”
Huge support has been shared online for Mr Skeet and his restaurant’s response to the incident over the past few days and that continued on Sunday. One person wrote: “Well done guys. It must have been tough for you but you have done the right thing and made a stand for honesty and integrity. Massive respect and admiration for both of you.” Meanwhile another poster wrote: “Good for you! Shame on the arrogance of the wealthy, privileged, ignoramus behaviour. No matter who you are with, however much money you may have, stay humble and treat people with respect.”
Mr Skeet, who trained under Gordon Ramsay and previously worked at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London, revealed last week that such behaviour from wealthy diners who look down at others is something that he has encountered before. "Before I had my own restaurant I worked in quite a lot of high-end restaurants and rich, higher-class, or perceived higher-class, people would come in and act the same,” he said. “I don’t want it in my restaurant. I’d rather be empty than cater to that. I don’t work this hard to be around people I don’t like."
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