Couple 'gobsmacked' with wife 'in tears' after being handed restaurant food bill

We’ve all had experiences of being close to tears when the bill arrives at a restaurant. Who knew that extra starter would be so expensive? Or a couple of drinks could amount to so much?

But rarely have we been lucky enough to have happy tears in our eyes when the cheque comes.

Paul and Dawn Molineux from Southport were out celebrating their milestone 50^th wedding anniversary together at Hickory’s Smokehouse, a few weeks before their planned party at the end of the month.

The couple - who met when they were just 14 and 16 on a blind date - were even greeted by a celebratory written sign at the restaurant.

Paul Molineux

They chatted with their server about their anniversary and 68-year-old Paul’s diagnosis of terminal cancer earlier in the year.

In between speaking with waiter James about their lives together, they enjoyed a couple of drinks, a 12oz steak and a burger.

But they were soon in for a real surprise.

Paul told the Liverpool Echo: “When he put the bill down we opened it and it said happy anniversary, the bill is on us. It was an 80-quid bill too.

"I just saw the look on my wife's face from across the table and thought have they got this wrong. She more or less broke into tears.

Paul Molineux

"We were gobsmacked. We had to go and find the bloke. We said you're joking aren't you?"

Turns out, James had only been the deputy general manager at the Southport branch of Hickory’s Smokehouse for around six weeks and was so touched by the couple’s story and Paul’s ongoing health battle.

The couple share three grown-up kids and are planning a massive birthday bash at the end of the month. They’ve got plans to live life to the fullest in the months Paul has left.

He added: “I can honestly say in those 50 years the amount times we've fallen out I can count on one hand. It is difficult with the diagnosis, but we laugh about it.

Paul Molineux

"We totally intend to live life to the fullest and we've got plans for a big anniversary party in Southport. People will be coming from all over.

"Luckily I've taken to chemo quite well. So many people get such bad side effects."

In a rather different story, a couple was recently shamed online after appearing to run off with their kids without paying for their meals and drinks at a pub – and it wasn’t an anniversary gift.

After being shamed online, the mum assured they did ‘clear the bill’ and also gave the pub a ‘generous tip’ by way of apology.