THE owner of a seafront restaurant says “nightmare” customers intimidated staff, threatened to publish bad reviews and refused to leave as a busy day ended in chaos.

The Seafood Shack, in Eastern Esplanade, Southend, was packed on Monday as hundreds of people enjoyed the hottest day of the year.

However, owner Sandy Van Deventer said staff had been left shocked after agreeing to stay open for a late table only to be met with “disgusting” behaviour.

It comes just weeks after a night of disorder which saw violent clashes and machete fights along the seafront and in the High Street had deterred tourists and residents from visiting Southend.

Sandy revealed the rowdy group not only intimidated her staff who were “shattered after working their socks off” but trashed the toilets by throwing plants and reed diffusers down them.

She said: “They were disgusting. It started off fine and we bent over backwards for them. We put their music on and were really accommodating.

“We don’t open Mondays but did as there was a want and we do Sunday hours on a Monday.

“They came in and we felt terrible turning them away. We let them in and it was pathetic and disgusting what was done to our toilets. We have to replace things. They were just spiteful.”

Speaking about the “demoralising” incident, she explained it was particularly galling given the recent violence in Southend and the need to attract customers to the seafront.

She said: “After previous events of the past two weeks, people are scared to come to Southend and Monday was such a good and positive day. People were out with their families and then for this to happen was annoying and upsetting.

“Our worry was we expected to have a bad review left, which does heavily affect us.”

Sandy says the majority of her customers are a joy to deal with but she wants all customers to realise hospitality staff deserve kindness and “give the message that this is not on.”

“Hospitality staff know it is tough at this time of year. They don’t get holidays, they don’t get the summer as they are working to help customers and help them have a nice time.

“People do try it on but most people are fine,” she added.