A customer has vowed never to return to a restaurant after her party was refused the use of discount cards for emergency workers and service personnel.

Karen Schulz went to Table Table in Herne Bay to celebrate her husband’s birthday, but says she was shocked to be denied money off the bill - despite two of her family members holding Blue Light and Armed Forces cards.

The 50-year-old says when she booked the table for 12 people at the restaurant in Margate Road, she mentioned the NHS card and was told by staff it was fine to use.

Ten people then attended the meal on July 15, but Mrs Schulz was “strangely” told neither the Blue Light nor the armed forces discount could be redeemed due to the party number being too high.

“It was my other half’s 60th so I wanted to pay for the meal. I went to give the staff the Blue Light Card and they said we could not use it because we were a party over six,” she said.

“My brother-in-law had an armed forces card and asked to use that. They said we couldn’t use that one either.

“We then looked up the terms and conditions and we could not see it mentioned anywhere.

“It was totally baffling as to why we could not use either of the cards. I do not know why they don’t let parties over six use them and why they did not say this when I booked.

“One of the clauses in their terms and conditions says the manager has the right to refuse the use of the card, but we were not given a reason as to why they refused us. If we were noisy then I could have understood but we were not. I honestly do not know.”

She added her family had been to this restaurant before and used the cards with no issue. Mrs Schulz decided to contact the restaurant via email as she did not want to embarrass anyone at the meal.

“I chose not to ask to speak to the manager at the time because I did not want to embarrass my partner on his birthday and preferred to send an email later,” she said.

“I have emailed them three times but had no response. Now I have gone to the head office who sent me an automated response and a reference number. This was a couple of weeks ago now but they have not responded.

“I am surprised I have not heard anything back. I am not bothered about the money, it is the principle as to why they would not accept the cards considering there was nothing online about it. I found it really strange.”

She added even if the restaurant belately offered to reimburse the money, she would not want it, and has vowed never to return.

“If they offered to pay anything I could give it to charity because I do not want it back, it was just purely the fact they did not let us use either card,” she said.

“It is nothing to do with the staff, it is the principle of it and I now think I am not going to go back and give them my money.

“If they had given me a reason then fine, but to not give a reason, I think I won’t go back.”

Mrs Schulz posted about her experience on Facebook to see if anyone had encountered similar issues.

“A few people commented they had been able to use their cards fine,” she said.

“But I think a lot of people were shocked by it.

“I think when we booked, they should have said they would not accept the cards.

“Bad words spread quicker than good and it is bad customer service that they have not got back to me a month later.”

Whitbread, the company that owns Table Table restaurants, has apologised for the confusion over the discount not being applied.

“We are really sorry for this mix-up here and apologise for the upset caused,” a spokesperson for the company said.

“Our team member was mistaken in not applying the discount for over six people – the issue has arisen from confusion with an internal promotion, which does indeed cap at six – Blue Light does not.

“We’re going back to the guest to refund the extra money paid as well as offer a voucher so they can dine with us again at their leisure on us as a goodwill gesture.”

The company has since refunded Mrs Schulz £52.87 – the cost of the discount which should have been deducted. She was also given a £25 voucher which she converted into cash.

Mrs Schulz has donated all of this money to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.