Richard Corrigan offers £1,000 meal for thieving diner’s identity

Chef Richard Corrigan is offering a £1,000 meal tab to anyone who can identify a customer who racked up a bill of £1,500 at his London restaurant and left without paying.

The Irish chef and restaurateur appealed for information by posting a cctv still of the mystery diner on Twitter last week.

The man racked up a hefty bill at Corrigan’s Mayfair on the 18 December before doing a runner.

Corrigan said that he was still looking for “Mr Pimpernel” and would offer “1,000 Corrigan eating pounds if anyone knows him”.

Speaking to The Times, the chef revealed that the rogue diner had ordered a “very expensive bottle of wine” along with a three-course meal which included foie gras, truffles and a soufflé.

I’m still looking for Mr pimpernel who walked into the London fog with out paying before Christmas 1000corrigan eating pounds , if anyone knows him . pic.twitter.com/t6X6BWqQ3x

— Richard Corrigan (@CorrigansFood) January 18, 2019

The man, who had dined alone, went outside to smoke a cigar but never returned.

Corrigan added: “I am not letting it go. I was sitting near him at one point and thought there was something odd. He was sitting there by himself with a very expensive bottle of wine and there was just something that wasn’t right about it.

“We have a lovely smoking area with tables and chairs and he went out there with his fancy cigar and his drink and he just never came back. He did it in style too – I’ve never seen such a well-dressed thief. He was wearing a cashmere scarf and a really fancy coat.”

Earlier this month a student caught trying to flee from The Savoy after ordering a £1,750 bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild was ordered by a judge to pay back the hotel.

Architecture student Yahya Egeh was also ordered to pay for the £158 meal he requested at the hotel, but has been let off the £238.50 service charge.