THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO DISPLAY AND RECORD INFORMATION OF A TARGETED HATE CAMPAIGN BY STEVE LAWSON AND HIS WIFE WHO LAST VISITED US ON 22ND FEBRUARY 2017.
AFTER THEY ACCUSED US OF POISONING THEM, I REALISED I HAD BEEN SCAMMED.
I QUICKLY OPENED A FILE ON THEM, SCOURED HIS FACEBOOK PAGE FOR HIS ACTIVITY AND PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE TIMELINE WHICH YOU CAN READ BELOW AND DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.
THE HATE CAMPAIGN BEGAN WHEN I REFUSED THEM ENTRY INTO OUR RESTAURANT THREE YEARS LATER AND IT CONTINUES TODAY THROUGH THEM POSTING NUMEROUS BAD REVIEWS UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES.
TRIP ADVISOR DOES NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE THIS GUY AND REFUSES TO ALLOW ME TO EXPOSE HIM, EVEN THOUGH HE IS CLEARLY EMBARKING ON A HATE CAMPAIGN, SO, I'M LEFT WITH NO ALTERNATIVE TO PUBLICISE IT MYSELF.
ONCE I GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER, I INTEND TO SPREAD IT EVERYWHERE I CAN, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, NOTIFY OTHER RESTAURANTS IN BENIDORM, THE MEDIA, HIS EMPLOYER AND THE POLICE.
PEOPLE LIKE THESE NEED TO BE STOPPED. IT'S TIME RESTAURANT OWNERS STOPPED BEING BULLIED AND THREATENED BY THESE PEOPLE.
FOR ME - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. IT'S TIME TO MAKE A STAND AND I'LL TAKE THIS AS FAR AS IT WILL GO.
A CAVEAT TO THE ABOVE.
From my point of view there is no possible way any of us can know 100% for sure whether these people contracted food poisoning at all back in 2017, never mind in my restaurant or somewhere else.
They didn't go to the doctors, they just made accusations.
However, their actions: carrying on eating, drinking, watching football and partying in the days following the incident would suggest that they didn't have food poisoning at all, they were probably hung over.
They do not take those facts into account at all, neither do they take into account the copious amounts of food and alcohol they consumed before coming to us.
They didn't put any reviews up until I denied them access to my restaurant. Then it began. (read on).
They didn't go to the doctors, they just made accusations.
However, their actions: carrying on eating, drinking, watching football and partying in the days following the incident would suggest that they didn't have food poisoning at all, they were probably hung over.
They do not take those facts into account at all, neither do they take into account the copious amounts of food and alcohol they consumed before coming to us.
They didn't put any reviews up until I denied them access to my restaurant. Then it began. (read on).
Keep in mind, they last visited us on 22nd February 2017 and Trip Advisor terms state that you can't make reviews a year after visiting.
3 years after their visit in 2017 and 6 days after I refused their booking, the hate campaign begins in March 2020:
Here is the review from Steve's wife. tinyurl.com/reviewmarch2020
Here is the review from Steve's wife. tinyurl.com/reviewmarch2020
- Firstly, the review claims that she visited in January 2020. We were closed as we have been every January for as long as I can remember.
- Secondly, her first line says that they visited after reading reviews. Yet they have visited us numerous times before. Here's a review they wrote about us in August 2015 tinyurl.com/august31-2015 Here's another from July 2013 tinyurl.com/July-2013 and yet another from August 2012 tinyurl.com/august-2012 and they've been a few more times too.
- Steve's texts to me said that the chicken was fine but the steaks were not. His wife said the chicken was bad.
- On the 1st March 2020 - 3 years after the so-called incident. Steve wrote to me on my Facebook thread and asked if he could book a table for his anniversary in July. I politely turned down the booking because of what I had discovered (see below) and 6 days later got the first of many bad reviews to kick of their hate campaign.
- This review is fake. We were closed in January 2020 as we always are every year and they have not been to our restaurant since March 2017.
- I might add that Steve also wrote a bad review at the same time and it was removed because he broke Trip Advisor guidelines. But that didn't stop him.
March 13th 2020 Lockdown. Re-opened tentatively October 2021 until January 3rd 2002 and then reopened properly February 10th 2022
For 2 years they couldn't write a review because we were obviously closed, but, then as soon as we reopened and I started my advertising campaigns, he sees it and it starts all over again. This time, they use fake names. tinyurl.com/February26-2022 (tinyurl.com/reviewremoved)
- He created the Trip Advisor in a fake name that day claiming us as his first ever review.
- He puts his name as Graham B and Wakefield as his area. This is very close to his hometown on one of his other names Steve l, and, identical to his wife's name on Facebook JB_72_wakefield
- In one of my replies to him I asked him in 2017 to go to the doctors and, I included that comment in me review response so this time he put in the review that he went to the medical centre.
I invite you Steve, to publish any part of that doctors report that says you had food poisoning on those dates. Better still, share any evidence that you were actually in Spain in February 2022. Because when I take this further, that's what I hope the relevant authorities will be requesting from you. - Then he doubles down and suggests locals are saying people are getting ill after eating here. We have the most 5 star reviews than any other restaurant in Benidorm and for years, until this guy and his wife started hating on us for not letting him book a table, we had always been top 5 on Trip Advisor, and, that's for 10 years.
A couple of days after the last review - he doubles down again. I think this was March 2nd or 3rd. It's not clear. tinyurl.com/2nd-March-2020
- Another fake account, opened 2 years ago but never used, until now.
- He uses the name Chunks but the big giveaway, apart from being another 1st time review, is his handle Leedsrntwe - Steve Lawson is a Leeds United supporter like me and, All Leeds Arn't We is our little mantra.
- Remember this guy and his wife last came into my restaurant 22nd February 2017, 5 years ago.
So let's get back to the incident in 2017:
Meet the lovely Steve Lawson and his wife.
Steve and his wife last graced our restaurant on the 22nd February 2017
As they left, they said they had a lovely time. He had a wonderful well-done steak and kindly left a 20 euro tip.
On the 23rd February 2017, I wrote to him on Facebook asking if he enjoyed the night. I didn't get the reply I expected.
"Hello Perry, Not good news I'm afraid, a couple of hours after leaving the restaurant 2 of us started to feel unwell, hot and cold flushes and feeling sick, We went straight back to the hotel where I was violently sick, this has gone on all night along with diarrhoea, I've had no sleep whatsoever, Amigos was the only place we ate together so it can't be anything else unfortunately, I've just spoke to one of the other couples and they are the same, my wife and daughter are both fine so it can only be the steak as everyone who had steak are ill and the 2 with chicken are fine."
Horrified, I went to see him and compensated him for his evening - remember he was a regular customer and I was pretty much in meltdown at the thought of what I had done to this poor man.
"Steve, I'm so sorry if it's our fault - where are you staying I'd like to come and see you... I'm going to the restaurant right now to check the steaks but will come and see you afterwards. 8 years this has never happened with us - I hope you're all ok."
2 hours later:
"Steve can you get in touch with me please... I'm at the restaurant checking the steaks... we got them in fresh a couple of days ago and sell by date is 3rd March... that isn't to say they were right though... I'm getting in touch with other customers last night by email and also waiting to speak to my chef... I can't turn the clock back but please let me try and put this right."
"I'm in a bad way, I'll see how I feel tomorrow, it could be anything to be honest it's just everyone who had steak have felt unwell,
I've not been sick for 20+"
"I feel awful Steve... have spoken to my chef and been into the restaurant... the steaks were delivered fresh on the 18th Feb vacuum packed not frozen with a sell by date of 3rd March. I checked the remaining steaks and all seem fine - but I'm not shirking responsibility. We have all been searching for answers today... I'm horrified that this may have come from our kitchen... you can eat off the floor in there, we are obsessive about cleanliness... I want to come and see you before you go back, the least I can do is give you a refund... I'm so sorry if it was our fault..."
Now remember he's "in a bad way" and this is the day after his meal on the 23rd February at 2:52pm (it's from my messenger timeline).
At 7:45pm that evening he's telling me he's just eaten pie and chips with a diet coke. Even then I wasn't suspicious, until the next day.
On the 23rd February 2017, I wrote to him on Facebook asking if he enjoyed the night. I didn't get the reply I expected.
"Hello Perry, Not good news I'm afraid, a couple of hours after leaving the restaurant 2 of us started to feel unwell, hot and cold flushes and feeling sick, We went straight back to the hotel where I was violently sick, this has gone on all night along with diarrhoea, I've had no sleep whatsoever, Amigos was the only place we ate together so it can't be anything else unfortunately, I've just spoke to one of the other couples and they are the same, my wife and daughter are both fine so it can only be the steak as everyone who had steak are ill and the 2 with chicken are fine."
Horrified, I went to see him and compensated him for his evening - remember he was a regular customer and I was pretty much in meltdown at the thought of what I had done to this poor man.
"Steve, I'm so sorry if it's our fault - where are you staying I'd like to come and see you... I'm going to the restaurant right now to check the steaks but will come and see you afterwards. 8 years this has never happened with us - I hope you're all ok."
2 hours later:
"Steve can you get in touch with me please... I'm at the restaurant checking the steaks... we got them in fresh a couple of days ago and sell by date is 3rd March... that isn't to say they were right though... I'm getting in touch with other customers last night by email and also waiting to speak to my chef... I can't turn the clock back but please let me try and put this right."
"I'm in a bad way, I'll see how I feel tomorrow, it could be anything to be honest it's just everyone who had steak have felt unwell,
I've not been sick for 20+"
"I feel awful Steve... have spoken to my chef and been into the restaurant... the steaks were delivered fresh on the 18th Feb vacuum packed not frozen with a sell by date of 3rd March. I checked the remaining steaks and all seem fine - but I'm not shirking responsibility. We have all been searching for answers today... I'm horrified that this may have come from our kitchen... you can eat off the floor in there, we are obsessive about cleanliness... I want to come and see you before you go back, the least I can do is give you a refund... I'm so sorry if it was our fault..."
Now remember he's "in a bad way" and this is the day after his meal on the 23rd February at 2:52pm (it's from my messenger timeline).
At 7:45pm that evening he's telling me he's just eaten pie and chips with a diet coke. Even then I wasn't suspicious, until the next day.
24th February - 2nd day after he was supposed to have been poisoned. (also, remember he had a well done steak) ALL bacteria - if any would have been killed. Nobody gets food poisoning from a well done steak.
Below is Steve filming pea men and posting the video on the Benidorm Seriously Group at just after midday. This is not even two full days after his meal. Instead of going to see a doctor or resting up and drinking gallons of water, he's out filming pea men, eating pie and chips, drinking coke and watching football.
Below is Steve filming pea men and posting the video on the Benidorm Seriously Group at just after midday. This is not even two full days after his meal. Instead of going to see a doctor or resting up and drinking gallons of water, he's out filming pea men, eating pie and chips, drinking coke and watching football.
Then one of his friends - Albi Senior I think it is - writes mockingly on his Facebook page:
"you make me laugh Steve Lawson, just the other day you were saying curry 4 nights running. Then you were going to one of the best restaurants in Benidorm ha ha then the next day you had food poisoning ha ha ya mad f****r."
Not sure of the day of this comment - when I was making my file back in 2017, for some reason I had it as the 22nd but I'm assuming it's the 24th.
"you make me laugh Steve Lawson, just the other day you were saying curry 4 nights running. Then you were going to one of the best restaurants in Benidorm ha ha then the next day you had food poisoning ha ha ya mad f****r."
Not sure of the day of this comment - when I was making my file back in 2017, for some reason I had it as the 22nd but I'm assuming it's the 24th.
Next day, Saturday 25th. Curry, Wine and Cobra - just to wash down the poison I guess.
I have no doubt that Steve felt unwell - I'm sure he did. But, he refused to go and get checked medically. He ate a well done steak, you just don't get food poisoning from that. He's out and about eating pie and chips the very next day... c'mon.
I suggest he looks at his lifestyle. The following is what I got from his Facebook page leading up to his visit to our restaurant.
10 days before their visit to our restaurant. 16 hours binge drinking culminating in a £50 cleaning bill to clean up their sick from a taxi.
I suggest he looks at his lifestyle. The following is what I got from his Facebook page leading up to his visit to our restaurant.
10 days before their visit to our restaurant. 16 hours binge drinking culminating in a £50 cleaning bill to clean up their sick from a taxi.
.The night before their visit to us. Eating curry, drinking beer and wine.
Drinking and partying at 01:00am in the morning Cafe Benidorm. This is the night before visiting us yet his sickness had nothing to do with this.
Mate: I would suggest that it's your lifestyle that's making you and the rest of us sick.
Final note: we sent back the batch of steaks to be tested in a lab and everything was fine. We also received a 5 star review from a guy that had eaten steak that very night from the same delivery. We were fully booked and nobody else mentioned that anything was wrong.
I intend to post a link to this page on every review he does from now on and also post the links on Facebook groups and send links to other restaurateurs so that they are warned about this guy and his wife.
Final note: we sent back the batch of steaks to be tested in a lab and everything was fine. We also received a 5 star review from a guy that had eaten steak that very night from the same delivery. We were fully booked and nobody else mentioned that anything was wrong.
I intend to post a link to this page on every review he does from now on and also post the links on Facebook groups and send links to other restaurateurs so that they are warned about this guy and his wife.
THE NEW MENUSEvery season we review our whole menu and make small monthly tweaks to things like sauces and vegetables.
|
THE RESTAURANTThe restaurant is light and airy with the option to hire the whole restaurant privately for up to 30 people for a small minimum spend
|
THE ROOF TERRACEOur very popular roof terrace is open during seasonal evenings and is ideal for private parties and group bookings.
|
PRIVATE DININGAt Amigos we have a free private dining area which is ideal for small groups of 4 to 8 people to capture that special moment.
|
BRIDES GO FREEA popular terrace for private cocktail, birthday, hen parties,wedding blessings and golfing groups where one person goes free.
|
SPECIAL OFFERSNew for 2021 we will be posting regular special offers such as free bottles of wine, free starters or desserts & discounts.
|