A large group of diners have been caught walking out of a busy fish and chips restaurant without paying their £200 bill in astonishing CCTV footage. 

In the video, the diners can be seen asking for their bill, looking at it and then deciding to leave at around 2pm on August 8. 

The dine-and-dash took place at Captain’s Restaurant – a venue which has been located on Brighton beach since 1990. 

Co-owners Billy and Pam Sandhu have informed the police and are requesting the diners come back and settle the bill immediately. 

‘We work hard and we’re one of the top restaurants in Brighton, so for someone to come in and do that, it’s upsetting,’ Pam said. 

The large group brazenly walk out of the independent restaurant without paying 

The restaurant owners are requesting the diners settle the bill immediately

‘We have a system here that says if a tab is still open and that’s when we realised that it hadn’t been paid,’ she added.

In the video, the bill can be seen laid-open on the table directly in front of two of the diners. The remnants of their meals and empty beer bottles are also sprawled across the table as they gather their bags and brazenly walk out of the restaurant. 

‘We had a group of 15 people who came in on a busy day and ordered in excess of £200 worth of food and drinks. They then asked for the bill, looked at it and then decided to all just leave.

‘We have informed the police, but they haven’t found anything yet,’ the owners said. 

Footages shows once the woman in the striped top stands up the remainder of the group can be seen hastily grabbing their stuff and making a speedy exit alongside her.  

The owners believe this is a ‘one off’ as people are usually trustworthy.

Sussex Police confirmed they are investigating a report of ‘bilking’ at the restaurant on the Lower Promenade.

A police spokesperson added: ‘A total of 11 people are alleged to have made off without paying for their meal around 2pm on 8 August.

In the video, the diners can be seen asking for their bill (pictured on the table), looking at it and then deciding to leave at around 12pm on August 8

‘Officers have engaged with the informant and our enquiries are ongoing. 

‘Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 1052 of 08/08.’

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said there had been a recent surge in the number of ‘outrageous’ dine-and-dash offenses.

Speaking to MailOnline last month, the Hampshire crime tsar – who is the new chairwoman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners – said: ‘This is the most blatant example of theft that you can see. It’s an awful thing for people to do.

‘It’s a crime that is growing. This could be down to the cost-of-living crisis. But there is no excuse for people to go to a restaurant, have a three-course meal and bottle of wine and then not pay for it. It’s outrageous.

A group of 15 diners have been caught walking out of a busy fish and chips restaurant without paying their bill in astonishing CCTV footage 

A dine-and-dash took place at Captain’s Restaurant which is located on Brighton beach saw diners leave without paying a £200 bill 

Owners of the independent restaurant have informed the police and are requesting the diners come back and settle the bill immediately

‘From what we can see, those who tend to do this tend not to be typical thieves who are drug or alcohol dependent. They’re driving away in their own cars.

‘It’s an appalling crime, particularly when people are struggling to pay bills and keep businesses afloat. I’d urge people to share images online as many business owners have done and to name and shame those individuals.’

In 2018 a Barclaycard’s study found one in 20 people had walked out without paying for their meal, with the credit card provider saying a third of restaurant goers found waiting for the bill the most frustrating part of eating out.

The most recent ‘dine and dash’ Home Office figures reveal the Metropolitan Police recorded 12,610 incidents making off without paying offences in 2018.