Try GOLD - Free
Sharing's not caring? Restaurateur cuts up rough over diners eating on the cheap
The Guardian
|November 09, 2024
Shortly after opening his north London restaurant, Hugh Corcoran noticed a pattern among some of his diners: large groups ordering tap water, starters and mains to share.
So, he turned to social media, writing on Instagram last week: "Restaurants are not public benches. You are there to spend money."
By the weekend, his post had accrued 150 comments, some accusing him of being thoughtless, others in agreement. A debate was born.
The Belfast-born chef opened The Yellow Bittern three weeks ago. It has three members of staff, seats 18 people, and is only open for lunch on weekdays. If you want to book a table, you phone or send a postcard. Curiously, it's not on Instagram.
This early in its life, it should be in no position to change the way we eat. And yet thanks to its famous pies ("we do pies when we fancy doing pies"), his predilection for the long boozy lunch, and its old-fashioned setup - it's also cash only - Corcoran is attracting and dividing diners who take umbrage with being told there is a right way to have lunch.
This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Storm Bram's strong winds and heavy rain lash parts of UK and Ireland
Flights and trains were cancelled, motorists faced long delays and thousands of properties were left without power across the UK and Ireland yesterday after Storm Bram brought heavy rain and strong winds.
2 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
Arteta worries 'dangerous circle' could hurt Arsenal
Mikel Arteta fears that Arsenal's quest for silverware this season could be undermined by a “dangerous circle” of mounting injuries and an unforgiving fixture list that he believes are placing huge demands on his squad.
1 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
One in five patients treated in corridors and cupboards – study
Corridor care is “endemic” in the UK, doctors have said, as a major study found one in five patients were treated in hallways, offices and cupboards.
2 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
Boost for Reeves as Bank predicts budget will lead to cut in inflation
The Bank of England expects Rachel Reeves’s budget will reduce the UK’s headline inflation rate by as much as half a percentage point next year.
2 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
De Ketelaere winner hits Chelsea's ambitions
There were no answers to Chelsea’s search for consistency here.
3 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
Clash of the titans Paramount and Netflix in fight for Warners
Warner Bros Discovery, the entertainment giant behind the storied Hollywood movie studios, HBO, CNN and other media businesses, is at the centre of one of the most extraordinary corporate takeover fights in recent memory.
4 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
Guardiola asks City to prove themselves in Bernabéu test
Pep Guardiola has challenged his reshaped Manchester City team to prove they can thrive against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.
1 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
'We'll watch them closely'
The apps hit by the ban and the plans to enforce it
3 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
Oslo appearance by Nobel peace prize winner called off
A press conference in Oslo with the Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado was cancelled yesterday, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said, adding that it was “in the dark” as to her whereabouts.
2 mins
December 10, 2025
The Guardian
Brigitte Macron under fire over sexist slur denouncing activists
Brigitte Macron faced criticism yesterday after footage emerged of her using a sexist slur to denounce feminist protesters.
1 mins
December 10, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size