A restaurant owner said he was "disgusted" by the actions of a customer who "verbally abused" his staff after eating at the wrong restaurant.
Anthony Greenland, owner and head chef of Tik Tacos in Southport, said it was a "normal Saturday night" when he heard shouting coming from outside his kitchen. According to Anthony, a man in his mid-forties was standing up screaming and threatening his wife by "pointing at her face."
The commotion had started after the customer received the bill and did not see a deduction for a £20 deposit made for a reservation. However, when he asked why it had not been deducted he was informed by staff that he was in the wrong restaurant.
READ MORE: 'Disappointed' couple leave Liverpool Christmas markets after 20 minutes
Speaking to the ECHO Anthony said: "He came in and said he had made a reservation. We had another booking under the same name also for a table of two and we assumed it was the same person and they had just arrived a little early.
"When we told him that he was in the wrong restaurant and we could not refund his deposit he started kicking off. He became abusive, starting to tell my staff to f**k off. I got involved and offered him a complimentary drink and he became aggressive, honestly, I thought he was going to headbutt me."
Anthony said the man then refused to pay the bill but was persuaded to do so after staff threatened to call the police and also claims the customer "touched him on the bum" to try and "get a rise out of him."
Anthony who is 42 said: "I don't know how he got the wrong restaurant, with our sign outside and it all over the menus and the other restaurant was only next door. This happens a lot in catering especially running up to Christmas and staff get abused. It's unexpectable and it should not be happening to my staff or our customers."
A spokesperson for Merseyside police said: "At around 9.40pm on Saturday 26 November officers received a report that a man had threatened staff at a restaurant on Coronation Walk in Southport. It was reported that a man threatened a member of staff inside the restaurant and then left the premises."
READ NEXT:
First picture of man with 'gentle soul' found dead after burglary
The world's biggest Hooters is open in Liverpool with wings, tiny shorts and a dash of feminism
Little girl had 'innocence taken away' after being abused on birthday
Find the coins hidden on the ECHO website for the chance to win a £200 voucher
Nurse stabbed after alarm failed in middle of attack by patient
