A Spanish restaurateur has won a court case after charging a customer for failing to honour a booking made at his establishment.

Chef Paulo Airaudo issued a €510 penalty for the no-show at the two Michelin-starred Amelia in San Sebastian – the company policy is to charge €170 per person if they fail to show without cancelling.

The booking was made back in July 2021 but the customer and his two companions failed to appear, the restaurant backing up its policy by issuing the penalty fee. A court case ensued with the customer in question claiming he had booked to stay at Hotel Villa Favorita, located in the same building as the restaurant, but had to postpone his arrival by 24 hours. His assumption was that as the restaurant is located in the same building, hotel staff would automatically notify the Amelia that his dinner booking would be cancelled.

The booking wasn’t cancelled – the hotel and restaurant are different companies – and after attempts to reassign the meal reservation on a date he was staying at the Favorita failed due to the restaurant being full, he discovered he had been charged for three no-shows.

His court claim against the penalty charge was dismissed, with many in the hospitality sector hoping it will set a precedent for customers who attempt to challenge no-show charges.