THE owner of a South Lakeland restaurant has called on the public to 'bear with' people working in hospitality after receiving a foul-mouthed rant from a would-be customer.

Darren Yates posted screenshots of the tirade to social media to shed light on the abuse received by those in the industry.

In the text messages, the customer expressed his belief - in colourful language - that he had been treated poorly after failing to secure a reservation at Auradaze, the Ambleside restaurant that Mr Yates owns.

"Why should anybody have to put put up with that?" said Mr Yates, 54.

"I'm not looking for publicity, it's to do it on behalf of the restaurant industry.

"Bear with us. We are doing what we can do, the best we can do it."

The rant from the customer came following a cancellation at Auradaze, which serves Japanese cuisine, on Tuesday.

Mr Yates said he offered the spot up to his waiting list of customers via text message.

The customer in question - named Andrew - texted Mr Yates a short while later, wanting to claim the place.

By this time, however, it had already been snapped up.

Andrew proceeded to send the abusive messages, sarcastically saying 'thanks a bunch' and telling Mr Yates he had already told his partner they would be visiting Auradaze and he would 'now have to disappoint her'.

After being sent further complaints - which included expletives - Mr Yates finished by texting Andrew: "I don't really think anyone who comes out with abuse like that is going to be welcomed into any eateries on this planet.

"I don't need people like yourself with abuse like that, especially when the young lady who works for us read your abuse.

"Hey-ho, nothing lost for us then, even though you didn't get through the door, thank God."

Mr Yates said he then blocked Andrew's number.

"When people can't get what they want, they get more abusive," he said.

"It's like a sense of entitlement.

"It's not on. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from."