The owner of a popular restaurant in Wotton-under-Edge has hit out at no-shows.

Andy Starling, who runs the Falcon Steakhouse, has called the situation 'heartbreaking'.

A screenshot of a text conversation with a customer who failed to turn up after having booked a table for four was posted on the restaurant's Facebook page.

It said: "I’d love to say this is a one off but I’m afraid it isn’t.

"We’re a 8 table small independent family run business and to loose even one table has an affect.

"I’d love to say we’d just take a deposit but we’re on the phone literally 6/7 hours every day as it is. It’s absolutely heart breaking. Especially when they get an email reminder the day before asking them to confirm (which they did)."

Welcome to our world..... I’d love to say this is a one off but I’m afraid it isn’t. We’re a 8 table small independent...

Posted by The Falcon Steakhouse on Thursday, 6 August 2020

With the hospitality industry having been damaged by coronavirus and social distancing limiting the number of tables, no shows are having an even greater impact.

Celebrity chefs, including Gloucester's Tom Kerridge, have been quick to criticise customers who fail to show up.

In an Instagram post last month after 27 people failed to turn up to his London restaurant he said: "This industry, like many others is on the verge of collapse.

"Your behaviour is disgraceful, shortsighted and down right unhelpful... all of you “no shows” in all restaurants up and down the country are adding to the issues already being faced... YOU are putting peoples jobs more at risk."

The Falcon Steakhouse is fully booked for evening tables Monday-Wednesday throughout August, due to the popularity of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. Tables are still available at lunchtime - call 01453 521894.