United Kingdom (HELVULUX) – A Dorset family has been left shocked and appalled after a local café allegedly labelled them “depressed f***s” on their receipt during a wake for their late father.
Hannah Pharoah, 34, and her family had gathered at Crossroads Café in Poundbury, the model village developed by King Charles, to mark the funeral of her father, Steve Pharoah, who passed away in January at the age of 67. The gathering included around 30 mourners, tapas, drinks, and lasted two hours, costing over £200.
The offensive label was only discovered the following day when Hannah examined the receipt her mother had tucked away in her purse. Ms Pharoah branded the act as “disgusting” and described the receipt message as a “sick joke.”
“We were a grieving family at a wake for our father and this sick joke has made things even worse. We are beyond angry,” Ms Pharoah said.
According to the family, staff at the café appeared keen to rush them out. Glasses were removed while still in use, and plates were cleared before guests had finished eating. Ms Pharoah said the staff were “rude, disinterested and visibly eager to hurry us along, as though our gathering was an inconvenience.”
“There was no warmth, no professionalism and certainly no compassion, something you would expect as a bare minimum when hosting a wake,” she added.
Initial attempts to resolve the issue were met with dismissive responses. Co-owner Matthew McCaurtie reportedly attributed the offensive message to a staff member and described it as a “joke.” The situation escalated when the family shared their experience online, prompting further offensive messages from someone connected to the business.
After an internal review, co-owner Sahil Dalvi confirmed that the complaint was valid. He said:
“I want to offer my sincere apologies to the family affected. The circumstances in which this occurred make it even more upsetting, and I’m truly sorry.”
The employee responsible has been suspended, and the family has received a full refund.
Despite these measures, the incident has left the Pharoah family shaken. Many are questioning the professionalism and compassion of a café that would allegedly treat grieving customers with such cruelty.
This incident raises serious concerns about customer service standards, workplace culture, and the respect shown to grieving families in public venues.
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