‘Selfish p****s’: Award-winning Sheffield bar posts furious Twitter rant after 13 no-shows

Public, on Surrey Street, only opened its doors again on Thursday, August 13, after five months closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Like many bars, Public is taking bookings as well as walk-in customers as they come to grips with the new Covid safety guidelines and track and trace measures.

However, the owners of the bar were left outraged on Sunday after recording 13 no-shows, labeling the individuals as ‘selfish p****s’

Posting on Twitter, the bar said: “13 no shows so far today. An absolute kick in the teeth for a tiny bar like ours.

“Why would you do that?! Why are some people such selfish p****s?”

The bar revealed that they take credit card details of customers wishing to book and charge anyone who does not show up £20.

Kelham Island restaurant and bar Pina also hit out at the ‘no-show’ culture in early July just days after reopening their doors.

Owner Joe Cribley said that people booking a table and not showing up was the ‘biggest threat’ to restaurants as they tried to adapt to post-lockdown rules around drinking and dining out.

He also highlighted the poor treatment of staff by some customers as evidence of ‘disdain’ for hospitality workers, as people lost their tempers over the social distancing restrictions, even stealing drinks.

"On our reopening weekend we had 30 no shows,” Joe said. “People cannot imagine how damaging this culture is, especially at this time.

"Not only is it selfish as it stops other people from being able to book, but in the current climate it leaves us with empty tables that we cannot fill, and that is not for want of people with a desire to come here."

Public is run by James O'Hara, who also operates Picture House Social on Abbeydale Road which reopened at the beginning of August.

This week, Mr O’Hara announced that his other bar, The Great Gatsby on Division Street, would be unlikely to reopen 'any time soon’ following the coronavirus pandemic.

In a social media post, the historic bar revealed that they had taken the ‘horrible decision’ to lay off their staff.