THE boss of a long-established Essex seafront restaurant has hit out at a couple who racked up a £100 bill before fleeing without paying.

Steve Yeung, 52, owner of The Pearl Dragon on Southend’s Eastern Esplanade, has revealed his business is being repeatedly targeted by “dine and dash” customers and the long-standing Chinese is struggling to absorb the lost cash.

In the latest incident, on Sunday, a couple fled without paying their £130 bill for a three-course meal.

A police investigation has been launched and Mr Yeung has published images of the couple accused of the incident on social media in a bid to warn other businesses.

Mr Yeung said: “It’s frustration more than anything else, me and my team are working long shifts and are working hard and to have people, mickey takers, like this come in is frustrating.

“It does hurt. The team were angry it is deflating. You put in all the effort and they feel entitled, they feel they can do this without punishment. Things are hard enough in the hospitality industry.”

Gazette: Couple faces blurred

The restaurant has operated in Eastern Esplanade for more than 30 years and is hugely popular in the community.

Mr Yeung added: “The £130 is not something we as a business can absorb, that was a lot of food and drink, and we started getting suspicious a couple of hours in because the gentleman kept going outside and in and outside again.

“I’ve had six other businesses message me saying that this has happened to them.

“If people like this are so well known then why has nothing been done? What annoys me the most is, there were not any pictures available.

Gazette: Couple face blurred

“It all adds up and this just needs to be stopped.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We have received an allegation of theft that took place at a restaurant in Eastern Esplanade, Southend, on Sunday.

“It was reported a man and woman ordered food at the restaurant and left without paying.”

The Pearl Dragon is one of Southend’s most respected Chinese restaurants, having opened in 1978 and treated guests along the seafront for more than 30 years.