Restaurant Claims Customers Planted Hair in Child’s Meal

A local pub has leveled accusations against a family of customers, alleging they deliberately placed a hair in their child’s macaroni cheese during a recent visit. The incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday evening, involved a family dining at The Woolpack on Manchester Road, Haslingden.

Allegations Surface After Macaroni Cheese Complaint

According to the establishment, the family arrived without a reservation. During their meal, they informed staff that a hair had been discovered in their child’s macaroni cheese. The pub states the dish was promptly removed and replaced at no charge, with the chef also offering a fresh meal of the family’s choice. However, the replacement meal was reportedly taken home, as the child had already consumed most of the original dish.

Staff expressed confusion regarding the complaint, noting that the hair in question was “notably long” and could not have originated from their chef. Following the family’s departure, the pub reviewed its security camera footage.

CCTV Footage Allegedly Shows Deliberate Act

Analysis of the CCTV footage reportedly revealed an adult customer taking the child’s plate and appearing to stir a hair into the macaroni cheese. Further security footage is said to show a ketchup bottle being concealed within a child’s hat before the family left the premises. Additionally, the customers are alleged to have taken an ice cream bowl and a teaspoon.

Pub Defends Staff and Business Integrity

In a statement released the following day, the pub defended its staff’s conduct, asserting they acted professionally throughout the encounter. The statement read: “Running a small hospitality business is challenging enough without having to deal with false complaints, threats of [social media] campaigns, and missing tableware.”

The pub expressed pride in its team’s “patience, professionalism, and far more restraint than most people would manage.” It emphasized the right of businesses to defend themselves against dishonest behavior, while acknowledging the right of customers to raise genuine concerns. “We will always take legitimate complaints seriously and do everything we can to put things right,” the statement continued. “However, we will not stay silent when accusations are demonstrably untrue.”

The establishment also extended thanks to its loyal customers for their continued support and addressed the alleged missing items: “And to anyone who may have accidentally gone home with a ketchup bottle, an ice cream bowl, and a teaspoon last night, our lost property box is always available.”

Community Reaction to the Incident

The pub’s statement has garnered significant attention online, with numerous comments expressing support for the business and condemning the alleged actions of the customers. Many praised the staff for their handling of the situation, with some calling the behavior “disgusting” and “shameful.” Loyal patrons highlighted their consistently positive experiences at the establishment.