Mollie Birch, 28, claims she has been publicly humiliated after a viral video alleging she didn’t pay her £59 restaurant bill spread across social media, leaving her embarrassed
A woman claims she has been publicly shamed after footage alleging she failed to settle her restaurant bill went viral. Mollie Birch, 28, looked embarrassed in the video, which has been viewed by 1.2m people, as she waited to depart whilst being recorded on a railway station platform by restaurant workers.
Mollie visited Rancho Steakhouse, Waterloo, by herself on Saturday, February 21 at 6.20pm. She requested Mexican dippers as a starter, then a ribeye steak with chips for her main dish, plus three pornstar martinis and a Kopparberg, totalling £59.25.
Mollie had eaten at the establishment previously and hadn’t encountered any problems with the team, service or payment on either visit. Following her departure at approximately 8pm, she subsequently spotted a gentleman approaching her at Waterloo Station whilst she waited to return home to Bootle.
Mollie informed the ECHO: “There was this man there. I didn’t realise it was someone from the restaurant.”
Mollie awoke the following morning to discover footage of her at the station was circulating on social media. In the recording, a man can be heard declaring: “Not paying the money for the food. Can you come back, please?”
She explained that whilst she did observe the gentleman at the station, she maintains she was unaware she was being recorded and assumed he was merely chatting on his mobile. It was only upon viewing the footage that she discovered she had been accused of departing without settling her bill.
Mollie said: “I look dead uncomfortable. I was shocked. It’s embarrassing. I’ve had so many cruel comments which is horrible. They’ve made an absolute scene of me. I’ve been publicly humiliated.”
Rancho Steakhouse’s restaurant manager, Navin Thapa, told the ECHO Mollie was seated near a staff member who thought she began acting suspiciously towards the end of her meal, claiming she was staying on her phone to avoid acknowledging the bill.
When the staff had their backs turned, Mollie allegedly left without paying. Navin said: “She just ran away. We said you haven’t paid your bill and she got up and left. We chased after her to Waterloo station and told her she had an unpaid bill and that we needed to go back.”
CCTV footage seen by the ECHO shows Mollie departing the restaurant before starting to sprint down the street. Two staff members pursue shortly afterwards to catch up with her.
Mollie maintains she was rushing for the train. Mollie insists she settled the full bill with cash before departing and wants her name to be cleared.
Navin says the reason staff uploaded the video circulating on social media was in a bid to “warn” other restaurants of the alleged dine and dash behaviour.
Navin said: “We wanted to warn other restaurants as a precaution which is why we posted the video. We never want to treat any customer like that but we can’t allow people to not pay their bill.”
Both parties have lodged complaints with Merseyside Police. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed: “We can confirm that officers were called to South Road in Waterloo at 8.25pm on Saturday 21 February following reports of an allegation of making off without payment from a local restaurant. Enquiries are ongoing in relation to this allegation, and a counter-allegation of harassment.
“We would always ask that crimes are reported directly to police, and that businesses or individuals do not attempt to pursue suspects themselves. Circulating and sharing images and/or videos of alleged offences online, especially when these have not been shared with police, can jeopardise investigations and cause unnecessary distress.
“Anyone with information on business crime in their area should contact Merseyside Police social media desk using X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via our website.”