There was fury in a UK seaside town after a restaurant doubled the price of some dishes ahead of The Open golf tournament. Portrush, in Northern Ireland, will play host to the 153rd Open tomorrow with up to 275,000 fans expected to visit the town.
There was furious backlash after the Ramore Restaurant Group, which owns Portrush’s Harbour Bar, Ramore Wine Bar, Basalt and Neptune and Prawn, increased the price of a chicken pasta dish from £14.95 to £27.95. At the wine bar, a chicken and bacon burger surged from £7.95 to £17.95. However, the owners claimed increased costs associated with the golf tournament have triggered the price hikes.
The price increases were mocked online by social media users, The Guardian reports. Some posted AI generated images of local heroes Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke cleaning dishes, adding that this is what is needed to pay for the food.
The Ramore Group said in a statement: “As a family-run business proud to be part of the Portrush community, our goal throughout this week is to deliver the best possible experience and ensure safety for those visiting.
“In anticipation of the large influx of guests, we’ve employed over 30+ agency staff to support our kitchens and front-of-house teams, 30+ security personnel operating around the clock to ensure everyone’s safety and more than 20 entertainers performing across our six venues seven days a week.
“We have simply been investing more as a business for our customers to ensure enjoyment and safety. Which of course creates additional business bills. We would also like to remind people that there is a family behind this business. A family who are involved every day, trying their very best, and reading every single comment. Everyone can make mistakes, however nobody deserves slander and hatred.”
Cara Hunter, the Northern Ireland assembly member, told the BBC: “I think that even if some messaging had been put out to say that prices were increasing, it might have been a little less shocking. I also understand Ramore’s perspective on this.”
The Open will take place from Thursday, July 17 until Sunday, July 20. A total of 156 players are set to compete to win the coveted Claret Jug and be crowned Champion Golfer of the Year.
