“They ate it all and said they were going for a smoke. One left, then the second. Then they ran”
CCTV images were shared of the alleged dine and dashers(Image: Sweet Mandarin)
The owners of a much-loved family-run restaurant in Manchester have been left devastated after a pair of dine-and-dashers ‘went out for a smoke’ before ‘running’ and failing to pay their bill.
Helen Tse, who runs the Sweet Mandarin restaurant with her sister Lisa on Copperas Street in the city centre, has claimed that two men arrived at opening time on Tuesday (July 8) before tucking into a meal for two and bottle of wine.
But at the end of their dinner, instead of settling up their £62.99 bill, Helen said the pair ‘went out for a smoke’ and failed to return, before ‘running’ away.
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It came as a devastating blow to the business, which has been run by the family having first opened on High Street, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in 2004, with the restaurant’s former owner and Helen and Lisa’s mum also having undergoing surgery in hospital on Tuesday.
But the family have been a cornerstone of Manchester’s Chinese food scene since the 1950s, with their grandmother Lily Kwok opening her Lung Fung restaurant in the 1950s.
The Sweet Mandarin restaurant in Manchester
“It’s been hard today as my mum is in the ICU having undergone open heart surgery,” she said. “I rushed back to open the shop and these two guys walked in.
“They were the only table at that time as we had just opened. They sat on table seven and ordered the dinner for two and a bottle of house white. They ate it all and said they were going for a smoke. One left, then the second. Then they ran.
“It’s the principle more than anything and this one is for my mum. You don’t come to my family business to rob us whilst mum’s [condition] is life or death. You made it personal.”
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Helen said the financial blow also came at a time that remains to be challenging for the hospitality sector, adding: “It’s the toughest it’s ever been. I’m dipping into my savings to cover the overheads.
“This is not a faceless act. It is a punch in the stomach. £62 is a lot of money when trade is hit by the economic crisis.”
Taking to social media, Helen issued an appeal along with CCTV images of the two customers she claimed were involved in the incident. She also claims they left a phone charger and glasses ‘with fingerprints’ that she will report to the police if the bill isn’t settled.
A post from the venue read: “Hey guys you came to Sweet Mandarin today 8/7/25 5.30pm. You ordered the dinner for two and a bottle of wine.
“Then you said you were going for a smoke and ran away. You forgot to pay and forgot your charger. I’ve also got the DNA and fingerprints from your wine glasses which I’ll give to the police.
“You have until 8:30pm to return to pay. £62.99. Or you can pay via the app if you feel shy. Manchester name and shame them.”
Comments beneath the post rallied in support of the business, as one person posted: “Stealing is bad enough, but from a small independent family business who are known for their kindness and love? That’s just morally bankrupt.”
As another penned: “Thieving scumbags. So sorry this happened to you and I hope everything gets resolved for you.”