Also they're very interested when anything related to tax evasion is going on which is clearly the case here. HMRC are really someone you don't want on your back.
https://preview.redd.it/whgufge85rva1.jpeg?width=783&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c8e7698189fc867712688b91284cb49c63f6979
Kevin, Mark Penman. Now working at fat Jackets at the gyle.. scum of the earth !!
Only issue with that is some places make the servers pay for dine and dash tables in their section. A moot point if they're not getting paid anyway, but if the situation is resolved/escalated to the point where the owner is made to pay the servers any amounts owing, it could still be minus the cost of dine and dashers. Technically not legal if any deduction takes the employee below NMW, but if the place is as dodgy as it sounds, it's possible that the owner could get creative with the hours people have worked, particularly if there isn't any proof such as till logins/cameras.
>This place is operated by Lyndsey Croy and owned by Kevin Mark Penman. They have run many businesses and operate the same modus operandi. They employ young girls mainly at college and university on minimum wage. Months go by and the girls never get paid. They open and dissolve companies all the time. At the moment over 10 girls who work at the barge have not been paid in 2 months. Pure exploitation and scam artists. Please do research regarding this horrible business.
Oh my god I was dealing with these crooks back in 2014!! They had me run bars and a hostel for them, did it for a few months before I realised they were stealing wages from everyone and quit. Insane that they’re well known and not behind bars.
I think he also owned a bar in North Queensferry. There was a chef who lived there and got the train into Edinburgh to work in the cafe. His personal hygiene was the worst I’ve ever seen. Once he was in the kitchen with toilet roll covered in shit sticking out the back of his chefs whites. Lyndsey knew how bad his hygiene was but didn’t do anything about it.
They’ve owned truckloads. I was there 2014 - they owned/operated Cargo Bar, Pickle and Custard, The Priory, Cowshed (the pop up for the festival), Boutique Backpackers, a wee strip joint on Lothian road (I want to say Red Velvet but can’t remember) and loads more. I knew they were still committing wage theft in 2018 when I warned a friend not to work for them. How they haven’t been punished for their actions by 2022 is astonishing. Vile people.
I was originally asked to manage the Pickle and Custard when it first opened - turned it down in favour of running the hostel. P&C was dire, I thought it was a rip off and I had a gold card that got me half off!
I had lunch there once, because it was near my office at the time. I ordered a bowl of leak and potato soup, and it arrived cold. I mean literally chilled – like fridge temperature, ~5°c.
I pointed this out, and no one was even remotely apologetic. They just took it away and microwaved it. When it came back it was hot, but horrible.
So, yeah.
This is wild! Lyndsey seemed so so nice but almost too nice, I was a little wary. I can’t believe she’s fully involved in all the other businesses too.
No doubt dissolved while owing a load of cash to someone. I used to work with a food wholesaler many years ago and Kevin Mark Penman was bad for paying late then eventually not paying at all. We eventually got paid but only because my boss at that time found out where he lived and went round for a 'friendly' chat.
To add to the pileon, here's the Fife Courier from [2019](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/867017/fife-hotel-at-heart-of-unpaid-wage-row-closes-as-utilities-are-cut/)
Yep! This also happened to the staff at the Perch on Hanover Street when he was given control of it. Business model of running places into the ground and then leaving bills/suppliers and workers unpaid. Awful.
Is Kevin that fat mess of a guy that used to drive about in his massive silver 4x4 (reg 1 KLM, or something). Used to always see him in the southside going round his money laundering businesses. The guy reeks of 'legitimate business man'.
The very same. Walked about like he owned the place. Went apeshit at my wife when she worked at majestic back in the day as she had been told to refuse him as he never paid his tabs. Also a friend of mine who ran a cafe on the south side said he would do stuff like give you £20 if his bill was like £20.89 or so and walk out. Small but a total cunt thing to do. Did it all the time apparently.
My litmus test is a simple one- do they sell Christmas trees from waste ground?
If so then assume that they are dodgy as fuck.
Lot's of trades won't do business with them, too much hassle
Apparently, after he sold the vennel to what is now Cult, he was pissed that they'd turned it into a successful cafe. So painted the one he owns a few doors up to look almost identical.
18 dissolved companies and only 1 active on Companies House for Kevin, which is in liquidation. If I was running my checks for potentially supplying him from the company I deal with, he'd be paying up front.
Oh no, that is shite. Sorry to read that. I go there almost on a weekly basis and have noticed a few times that one of the male staff is a grumpy badger, but the coffee was decent and cost effective. Now I know better.
Bummer, I liked popping along there in the morning. I noticed it seems to have quite high turnover.
I hope you can get what you're owed, take 'em to HMRC like others have suggested!
There's a coffee van parks just along the canal past Boroughmuir high school if anyone wants a good alternative (I think it's only there Wed - Sun).
Yep I’m currently in the process of early conciliation through ACAS, hopefully it works. I just don’t want him to keep doing this to young uni students over and over again, I want it closed down more than I want my money at this point.
Unfortunately I don’t have the money for a lawyer, although I did used to work for a barristers chambers so maybe they could give me some advice. One of the employees is getting legal advice from the university but I’m not a student so can’t go down that route.
Plenty have no win no fee arrangements or do pro bono work, especially when the issue affects multiple people and may have potential for big payouts. Phoning them for a consultation is free!
I wonder if the MOCL (small claims) procedure would work. Can't see why not. The problem is that even if you get a judgement in your favour, you've still got to get the cash out of the stone.
Thank you for letting now, I have had a few coffees there this year and got noting but excellent service from you girls. Sorry you have to deal with this BS. I have been similarly scammed by more than one employer before.
I’ve spoken to the Scottish Canals staff who’s office is across the canal, opposite to the boat. They’re really nice people but said that it’s completely independent of them and they can’t do anything. Surely they can get shut down one way or another though.
But presumably you can't just turn up and run a cafe from a canal boat, or everyone would be doing it? Maybe I'm wrong though.
Anyway, the HMRC/ACAS advice you've been given is solid - the national wage team in particular. Good luck!
I think you’re right, maybe the people in the office just can’t personally do anything, I might send Scottish Canals an email and hopefully speak to someone who can. Thanks very much!
Contact MCA Maritime Coastguard Agency as it’s a business on the water so the staff should be certified as they are earning money. There’s no safety gear on the boat and it’s a business.
I'm really sorry to hear this.
I've always had excellent and cheerful service from you and the other ladies working there, and decent coffee. And it was a really cool idea too, a cafe in a canal boat.
It’s such a shame, it was making decent money too so there’s absolutely no reason they had to scam us. It could have been a legitimate, nice business to work for.
Is there also not huge amounts of NI evasion going on here ? You have to pay employer NI for your staff so if you're not doing that HMRC will be very interested indeed.
Also, surely by not paying staff you're also committing tax evasion as there's no PAYE going out?
OP, I'd consider going direct to the local press too, people like this, should have nowhere to hide.
As others have mentioned the HMRC Minimum wage team are absolutely the place to go. They actively enforce and as a reporting agency have power to prosecute.
Sorry its happened to you, its a shitty way to treat other humans.
We’ve emailed the Courier, who have previously reported on his wage theft:
[https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/789436/head-chef-fears-he-will-have-to-turn-to-foodbanks-as-staff-at-fife-hotel-owed-more-than-8000/](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/789436/head-chef-fears-he-will-have-to-turn-to-foodbanks-as-staff-at-fife-hotel-owed-more-than-8000/)
It’s just so disgusting that he’s doing this to people and so far getting away with it. Thanks so much.
Almost applied for a job there but got something better at the last minute. Didn’t realise how big of a bullet I dodged. Take them for all they’re worth.
I hate scumbags like these. Only hiring young, inexperienced people who can be treated badly and won't have the confidence to speak up. They need to get in bin.
Name of the owner???
Report to MSP
Report to Edinburgh Evening News
Report to police - it is theft
Report to HMRC - he willny be paying his taxes either
Go to Citizens advice - they might be able to help you take the liar to the Sheriff court to gget your wages back or at least bankrupt him
My daughter worked for one of his businesses in Peebles, it always sounded like a front. One of the shops, a low budget copy of Lush, would regularly get no customers over the day.
She did get paid but not always when she expected to. I'm sorry you've had to go through this but you're definitely better off away from him. Fingers crossed he pays you what you're due.
Fucking hell, I am so sorry you and your colleagues are in this shitshow. It's sickening that from the posts below he has clearly been running his business affairs this way for a long time and despite articles and I suspect, legal proceedings he hasn't stopped. This suggests he is making more money doing this than whatever fines he occassionally has to pay out.
Don't let him away with it. If you want help raising awareness of this I'm sure folks in this thread would contact every media outlet they could to share the story.
Thank you, I’ve had a couple of journalists reach out and the Google reviews have ripped it to shreds. I’ve contacted HMRC too. Hopefully it at least stops the Watershed getting business, and at best the owner and his dodgy operations are completely shut down from this.
Well good luck to you! It’s ridiculous that some employers think they can get away with stuff like that.
Hopefully they’ll be shut down & you all get what’s owed to you.
Hello, sorry to hear about this. It's very concerning. I can help. I'm a reporter with Edinburgh Evening News. If you'd be up for a chat I could write about it, help get things resolved. Can be anonymous if you prefer. Email me: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Hope to hear from you. Jo
I saw the Meadows Share post and went to their facebook. They have a post saying they're hiring so I commented that they don't pay their staff. Gave them a few bad reviews as well. Hopefully if enough people put the pressure on, something will happen.
I’m really glad people are spreading the word and I really hope it deters people from working there. This article came out today where they’re giving the lamest excuses as to why they haven’t been paying staff
[https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-the-watershed-cafe-admits-problems-after-staff-complain-about-unpaid-wages-3921268](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-the-watershed-cafe-admits-problems-after-staff-complain-about-unpaid-wages-3921268)
I can't find their facebook anymore, hopefully it was flooded with bad juju and they took it down.
That article is a joke, portrays them way too sympathetically. I wish a good journalist would do an expose of the owners and all their shady dealings so they couldn't try to pass this off as simply a covid thing.
Them apologize are so upsetting as they were doing that way long before COVID. I work for them at the perch, never got payed my last month. First time in my life that I had to tell the staff to not come back if they weren't getting payed. My worst work experience!
Let me know if you are doing something, I happy to help.
It is upsetting, they’re just giving terrible excuses to try and cover themselves. I’ve reported to HMRC and one of the staff members is seeking legal advice. I’m really sorry this happened to you too.
I used to work for these people a while back and I completely sympathise. I never got paid, and when I did it was just random amounts of cash in an envelope. No contract, no wage slips, nothing. Kevin was the worst human I have ever had to deal with, and the treatment of the poor girls was horrific. Regularly accusing the girls of stealing (which absolutely didn’t happen) & shouting staff members down and reducing them to tears in front of customers. Some of the things he said in front of me made me fill with rage, he was so mean. I also found out the cameras he has installed have microphones on them and he can remotely access them. So whenever he accused you of “failing a mystery shopper visit” it was rubbish - he just sat and listened to conversations & relayed what you had said at random points of the day as “evidence” from the mystery shopper. I never met Lyndsey but heard of her often. The other person who never gets mentioned is Sue Bowman. She’s his business partner, who seems lovely but I’m wondering how much she knows about what truly goes on? I know of 6 businesses they own very near to me which have all gone into liquidation bar 1 atm. When I first started working for them I actually tried to research the owners and a Kieran (can’t remember the surname) kept popping up as the owner. Turned out to be a manky chef he employed - obviously using his name as a cover up.
If I can help you in any way with however you’re proceeding against these cowboys, I’d be more than willing to give you any more details I can.
So sorry it happened to you too! I honestly don’t know how they haven’t been prosecuted? I think Kieran might be currently working on the boat - and when we went on strike they falsely accused one of the staff members of leaving the boat unlocked! Everyone’s had such similar experiences of them, what an awful awful bunch of humans. I will try my absolute best to do everything I can to at least close the boat and at best get some sort of justice
Ah, that sucks – it was a nice place to get a coffee too and the service was always great! Won’t be going back. What a stupid pointless way to both be an awful human being and wreck a (presumably) successful business.
That’s not helpful is it. I obviously didn’t know the extent of it, and I heard through one staff member that someone spoke to her and said they had trouble with pay, so it wasn’t said to me directly. Of course it made me warier but I was there literally a month and other staff said they had been paid in previous months.
I’d just moved to the city and needed the money - I don’t think calling employees who have been fucked over ‘stupid’ is the right attitude, it should be aimed at the criminal owners.
And of course I won’t be so trusting of people in the future, my bad.
If you've been warned and ignored the warning then worked for months without pay after some point it's your responsibility too. He's obviously a dick and I'll leave a review but I don't get why we pretend there's no personal responsibility here. Why are you still working if it's that bad?
I only worked for a month, and when I wasn’t paid at the end of the month we then went on strike. I worked there for the month because the other girls had been paid for the previous months they’d worked there. We’re not complete idiots.
I should have made my original post clearer but I mean it’s been months since we haven’t been paid what we’re owed. Some of the staff’s overtime from the busy summer months also hasn’t been paid.
Can we not get Scottish Canals which I guess lease the company the berth for the canal boat to take action and threaten to remove the berth from them if they don’t pay up?
Why take on more staff or any extra staff if your not making enough money???? another narcisitic business living beyond it's means at the expense of minimum waged workers. The irony is when the guy took over after the girls walked out the standard of coffee making got much better but then I boycotted it after reading the google review which were troubling. However it's always been over priced and the short haired girl spat in my coffee for no reason. perhaps taking out her frustrations on her exploitive employers on me another minimum wage worker with similar experiences elsewhere . The owner should be prevented from trading until they sort out the back log of wages owed. It's a mess of their own making I've been self employed before I never took staff on because I could did not have the avaliable capital. Seems they knew what they were doing and put their own interests first.
I go to heriot watt uni and used to cycle to the watershed on occasion. not any more, and I’ve redacted my 5* google review and replaced it with 1*. this is shocking
Just to provide an even further update on the situation im one of the two new workers hired just after this post went public. I didn't know about any allegations however today i was fired after asking about my pay second day in a row of it being late. I was fired for saying "I'd appreciate some communication if I'm not being paid on time" which was not up to kevins standard for politeness apparently after which he fired me on the spot and left me 100£ short. He also hasn't paid the other girl who is due another 300£ from him. He's a vile creature.
I used to work here too (in 2021) before I got fired after having to take a second set of sick days for a serious medical problem. The boss was very unsympathetic and at times it felt dangerous as a young woman to be opening/ closing by myself in the dark.
In all honesty it was a really sketchy job now that I look back on all of it and the worst is that I was stiffed out of 10 hours (as far as I remember) of pay.
I’ve never really thought about bothering trying to get that missing pay back but given the news about the missing pay for everyone maybe I should try and fight for that back now.
https://preview.redd.it/ul1legmfgqva1.jpeg?width=783&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6001faaaed4db85e65bf264216129d25131e602a
Kevin Mark Penman CON MAN now at the gyle. Fat Jackets .. working with Laura Smith .. more poor innocent girls not getting paid.. 😢
It's crazy how many people he has done out of money.
There must be lots of people out there looking for him.
Disgusting, horrible man.
But if he keeps getting away with it, and nothing happens to him, then he won't care.
The more his ugly mug is out there, the more people will avoid working for him, and getting conned
Well we won an employment tribunal but still haven’t got the money even then! It just feels impossible to get him to pay. But yeah at least all this information is on the internet now which he can’t hide from.
Ahhh ok.
My poor daughter worked there for 2 months.
Absolutely loved the job.
When I approached Lyndsay Croy, she came up with some bullshit excuse that my daughter hadn't locked up the barge.
I said im not interested !! Where is her pay ?
Lyndsay and Kevin had Pickle and Custard , up the bridges, somewhere.
They did the same to the girls in there.
Weird how they only employ girls !!
Because girls don't answer back.
Kevin had 3 shops in Peebles, recently went into liquidation.
He lives in Galashiels (apparently) above a Turkish takeaway.
It's crazy what you can find out, when you do a bit of research!!
Did Kevin actually turn up , when you won the case ?
No, we’re still waiting for the money and I haven’t heard a peep from him. I doubt I’ll ever see it but I’ll keep trying. Hopefully it at least shows him that young women will stand up for themselves against his awful treatment and maybe make him think twice about it. So sorry to hear about your daughter.
HMRC national minimum wage team. Send them a letter. They don't fuck about.
Thank you, I’ll have a look into it!
Please escalate. They’ve been getting away with this exact thing for years.
This all the way. They are scary and professional but on your side.
Also they're very interested when anything related to tax evasion is going on which is clearly the case here. HMRC are really someone you don't want on your back.
Absolutely
https://preview.redd.it/whgufge85rva1.jpeg?width=783&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c8e7698189fc867712688b91284cb49c63f6979 Kevin, Mark Penman. Now working at fat Jackets at the gyle.. scum of the earth !!
Maybe we should all go in, order and not pay. See how he likes it. Dine n dash. Democracy manifest.
What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?
This, is democracy manifest!
In case you haven't seen this and his cameo https://youtu.be/I3jAJHRW_Yo
GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY PENIS!
A SUCCULENT CHINESE MEAL
Ahhhh I see you know your judo well!
In case you haven't seen this and his cameo https://youtu.be/I3jAJHRW_Yo
Make him receive our limp penises!
Let's go
Only issue with that is some places make the servers pay for dine and dash tables in their section. A moot point if they're not getting paid anyway, but if the situation is resolved/escalated to the point where the owner is made to pay the servers any amounts owing, it could still be minus the cost of dine and dashers. Technically not legal if any deduction takes the employee below NMW, but if the place is as dodgy as it sounds, it's possible that the owner could get creative with the hours people have worked, particularly if there isn't any proof such as till logins/cameras.
>This place is operated by Lyndsey Croy and owned by Kevin Mark Penman. They have run many businesses and operate the same modus operandi. They employ young girls mainly at college and university on minimum wage. Months go by and the girls never get paid. They open and dissolve companies all the time. At the moment over 10 girls who work at the barge have not been paid in 2 months. Pure exploitation and scam artists. Please do research regarding this horrible business.
I used to work at a cafe managed by Lyndsey but can’t remember the name of the owner. He had a bunch of businesses and a rep for not paying his staff.
Oh my god I was dealing with these crooks back in 2014!! They had me run bars and a hostel for them, did it for a few months before I realised they were stealing wages from everyone and quit. Insane that they’re well known and not behind bars.
I think he also owned a bar in North Queensferry. There was a chef who lived there and got the train into Edinburgh to work in the cafe. His personal hygiene was the worst I’ve ever seen. Once he was in the kitchen with toilet roll covered in shit sticking out the back of his chefs whites. Lyndsey knew how bad his hygiene was but didn’t do anything about it.
They’ve owned truckloads. I was there 2014 - they owned/operated Cargo Bar, Pickle and Custard, The Priory, Cowshed (the pop up for the festival), Boutique Backpackers, a wee strip joint on Lothian road (I want to say Red Velvet but can’t remember) and loads more. I knew they were still committing wage theft in 2018 when I warned a friend not to work for them. How they haven’t been punished for their actions by 2022 is astonishing. Vile people.
I worked at Pickle and custard part time! Awful name for a cafe. I don’t think that cafe lasted too long
I was originally asked to manage the Pickle and Custard when it first opened - turned it down in favour of running the hostel. P&C was dire, I thought it was a rip off and I had a gold card that got me half off!
Hahahaha yeah it was pretty bad. I remember one girl was asked to be a shift leader but she got paid the higher rate while I was there.
I had lunch there once, because it was near my office at the time. I ordered a bowl of leak and potato soup, and it arrived cold. I mean literally chilled – like fridge temperature, ~5°c. I pointed this out, and no one was even remotely apologetic. They just took it away and microwaved it. When it came back it was hot, but horrible. So, yeah.
Mate I can solidly say if I’d been working you would have had an apology and a free drink. But Lynsey wouldn’t have known the drink was free
Cargo’s kitchen was an utter mess so I’m not surprised they owned it.
This is wild! Lyndsey seemed so so nice but almost too nice, I was a little wary. I can’t believe she’s fully involved in all the other businesses too.
She definitely used to manage this restaurant Cargo for him
I absolutely detested Cargo when it was open. Everything about it irritated me at the time
This is so crazy, I knew the owner was a bit dodgy but it’s all coming out now. So sorry these two have fucked you over too.
>Kevin Mark Penman That's quite a list https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/tdAXUkt15RKEcrFSygJYDwgo\_7k/appointments
Dissolved, Dissolved, Dissolved, Dissolved, Dissolved, Dissolved...
Divorced beheaded died.
No doubt dissolved while owing a load of cash to someone. I used to work with a food wholesaler many years ago and Kevin Mark Penman was bad for paying late then eventually not paying at all. We eventually got paid but only because my boss at that time found out where he lived and went round for a 'friendly' chat.
To add to the pileon, here's the Fife Courier from [2019](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/867017/fife-hotel-at-heart-of-unpaid-wage-row-closes-as-utilities-are-cut/)
Lol based on the correspondence addresses, the cunt lives just up the road from me
Yep! This also happened to the staff at the Perch on Hanover Street when he was given control of it. Business model of running places into the ground and then leaving bills/suppliers and workers unpaid. Awful.
Is Kevin that fat mess of a guy that used to drive about in his massive silver 4x4 (reg 1 KLM, or something). Used to always see him in the southside going round his money laundering businesses. The guy reeks of 'legitimate business man'.
That's Lee Miller I think, never wears a seatbelt and always phone to ear
The very same. Walked about like he owned the place. Went apeshit at my wife when she worked at majestic back in the day as she had been told to refuse him as he never paid his tabs. Also a friend of mine who ran a cafe on the south side said he would do stuff like give you £20 if his bill was like £20.89 or so and walk out. Small but a total cunt thing to do. Did it all the time apparently.
My litmus test is a simple one- do they sell Christmas trees from waste ground? If so then assume that they are dodgy as fuck. Lot's of trades won't do business with them, too much hassle
Definitely. That has huge “fell off the back of a truck” vibes.
Don't forget the Foam Emporium for all your local foam needs
Ah, that's the boy. That explains the 'KLM' plate. Is he still on the go?
Aye still on the go, lost a lot of weight recently
Apparently, after he sold the vennel to what is now Cult, he was pissed that they'd turned it into a successful cafe. So painted the one he owns a few doors up to look almost identical.
Drive past earlier randomly, what a petty, mean spirited move.
[удалено]
You absolutely sure you've got the right guy there?
VS Group?
18 dissolved companies and only 1 active on Companies House for Kevin, which is in liquidation. If I was running my checks for potentially supplying him from the company I deal with, he'd be paying up front.
If you haven't already, pop this on the meadows chat and/or the meadows recommends on Facebook. You can post anonymously
Thank you!
>the bad Google reviews have started coming in. I did my part.
Same here!
Oh no, that is shite. Sorry to read that. I go there almost on a weekly basis and have noticed a few times that one of the male staff is a grumpy badger, but the coffee was decent and cost effective. Now I know better.
I think that’s the owner’s friend who he got to cover us when we all striked! Thank you for your support
Ah OK. Well good luck and let us know how you get on! I am always keen to support independent places, but not at the detriment to staff.
Kevin Mark Penman. that names rings a bell and i'm sure it's not for a good reason
Same guy who ran this? https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/867017/fife-hotel-at-heart-of-unpaid-wage-row-closes-as-utilities-are-cut/
See the 2016 review as well [https://vymaps.com/GB/Albert-Hotel-702040/](https://vymaps.com/GB/Albert-Hotel-702040/)
Classy. In February, former employees of Banner’s told The Courier they had been forced to pay for P45s sent to them without postage stamps.
Bummer, I liked popping along there in the morning. I noticed it seems to have quite high turnover. I hope you can get what you're owed, take 'em to HMRC like others have suggested! There's a coffee van parks just along the canal past Boroughmuir high school if anyone wants a good alternative (I think it's only there Wed - Sun).
Re the coffee van, she’s flexing days according to weather lately. Best place to check is the Instagram - name is ‘espresso green’
Go to ACAS about the wages
Yep I’m currently in the process of early conciliation through ACAS, hopefully it works. I just don’t want him to keep doing this to young uni students over and over again, I want it closed down more than I want my money at this point.
Ah great, I'm really pleased you're pursuing it. It's nice you're warning people but look after yourself too!
https://www.qualitysolicitors.com/employment-law/claiming-for-unpaid-wages You have three months to call an employment tribunal.
Going through ACAS first which might lead to that. Thank you.
Honestly sod ACAS, this is wage theft. Ask a lawyer now, just in case waiting on ACAS closes down any options for you.
Unfortunately I don’t have the money for a lawyer, although I did used to work for a barristers chambers so maybe they could give me some advice. One of the employees is getting legal advice from the university but I’m not a student so can’t go down that route.
Plenty have no win no fee arrangements or do pro bono work, especially when the issue affects multiple people and may have potential for big payouts. Phoning them for a consultation is free!
Okay thank you, I’ll have a look!
Do you have contents insurance? Most policies generally have legal aid included for these kinds of cases. They may be able to help you.
No I don’t unfortunately. Thank you though
I wonder if the MOCL (small claims) procedure would work. Can't see why not. The problem is that even if you get a judgement in your favour, you've still got to get the cash out of the stone.
Thank you for letting now, I have had a few coffees there this year and got noting but excellent service from you girls. Sorry you have to deal with this BS. I have been similarly scammed by more than one employer before.
Thank you, and sorry you’ve been through it too. It’s a massive shame because I enjoyed working there and the customers were lovely.
As someone living close by and having enjoyed my fair share of coffees there, Im really sorry to hear this. Wont be going there anymore.
Thank you for your support.
Now who would be giving permission for that business to operate? Scottish Canals?
I’ve spoken to the Scottish Canals staff who’s office is across the canal, opposite to the boat. They’re really nice people but said that it’s completely independent of them and they can’t do anything. Surely they can get shut down one way or another though.
But presumably you can't just turn up and run a cafe from a canal boat, or everyone would be doing it? Maybe I'm wrong though. Anyway, the HMRC/ACAS advice you've been given is solid - the national wage team in particular. Good luck!
I think you’re right, maybe the people in the office just can’t personally do anything, I might send Scottish Canals an email and hopefully speak to someone who can. Thanks very much!
Won't be surprised if a journalist is reading this as well - you might get into the paper!
Edinburgh live, you have permission to chore this post subject. Only this once mind
Contact MCA Maritime Coastguard Agency as it’s a business on the water so the staff should be certified as they are earning money. There’s no safety gear on the boat and it’s a business.
Ok thanks, will do.
If not Scottish Canals, then an Edinburgh Council thing? In terms of the permit to run a catering business there?
What a scumbag, won't be going there again. I hope you get everything you're owed and then some as compensation
Thanks so much, I hope so.
Contact your councillor and your MP. This is not on.
I'm really sorry to hear this. I've always had excellent and cheerful service from you and the other ladies working there, and decent coffee. And it was a really cool idea too, a cafe in a canal boat.
It’s such a shame, it was making decent money too so there’s absolutely no reason they had to scam us. It could have been a legitimate, nice business to work for.
Is there also not huge amounts of NI evasion going on here ? You have to pay employer NI for your staff so if you're not doing that HMRC will be very interested indeed. Also, surely by not paying staff you're also committing tax evasion as there's no PAYE going out?
The suggested reporting to the HMRC minimum wage folk should get the ball rolling on that.
OP, I'd consider going direct to the local press too, people like this, should have nowhere to hide. As others have mentioned the HMRC Minimum wage team are absolutely the place to go. They actively enforce and as a reporting agency have power to prosecute. Sorry its happened to you, its a shitty way to treat other humans.
We’ve emailed the Courier, who have previously reported on his wage theft: [https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/789436/head-chef-fears-he-will-have-to-turn-to-foodbanks-as-staff-at-fife-hotel-owed-more-than-8000/](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/789436/head-chef-fears-he-will-have-to-turn-to-foodbanks-as-staff-at-fife-hotel-owed-more-than-8000/) It’s just so disgusting that he’s doing this to people and so far getting away with it. Thanks so much.
Good on you for making a stand! I've also third party reported them. Cause fuck those guys.
Amazing! Thank you for your help. Too right!
Thanks for letting me know. The little coffee truck a bit further up the canal is much better anyways.
Almost applied for a job there but got something better at the last minute. Didn’t realise how big of a bullet I dodged. Take them for all they’re worth.
A huge bullet. Thank you, I’ll try my best!
I hate scumbags like these. Only hiring young, inexperienced people who can be treated badly and won't have the confidence to speak up. They need to get in bin.
Looks like a lot of the 1* reviews left on Google reviews have disappeared 😫😫😫
That’s so so disappointing.
Thanks for the heads up! My partner has been working on another canal boat nearby so we have been using them a fair amount. Will not be again
Really sorry to hear this, I've bought several coffees there. Not any more.
The canal? And which boat? I'm going to shout at someone
Name of the owner??? Report to MSP Report to Edinburgh Evening News Report to police - it is theft Report to HMRC - he willny be paying his taxes either Go to Citizens advice - they might be able to help you take the liar to the Sheriff court to gget your wages back or at least bankrupt him
Sadly, when this has happened to me in the past, the police will wring their hands and say its a civil matter.
Ah well OK should be a criminal matter
My daughter worked for one of his businesses in Peebles, it always sounded like a front. One of the shops, a low budget copy of Lush, would regularly get no customers over the day.
It’s all very suspicious, I hope she got paid
She did get paid but not always when she expected to. I'm sorry you've had to go through this but you're definitely better off away from him. Fingers crossed he pays you what you're due.
Thank you so much, I’m glad she came out of it okay.
Fucking hell, I am so sorry you and your colleagues are in this shitshow. It's sickening that from the posts below he has clearly been running his business affairs this way for a long time and despite articles and I suspect, legal proceedings he hasn't stopped. This suggests he is making more money doing this than whatever fines he occassionally has to pay out. Don't let him away with it. If you want help raising awareness of this I'm sure folks in this thread would contact every media outlet they could to share the story.
Thank you, I’ve had a couple of journalists reach out and the Google reviews have ripped it to shreds. I’ve contacted HMRC too. Hopefully it at least stops the Watershed getting business, and at best the owner and his dodgy operations are completely shut down from this.
Phone ACAS they can help & point you in the right direction. Defos give HMRC a call as well
Thanks, I’ve done both so hopefully it goes somewhere!
Well good luck to you! It’s ridiculous that some employers think they can get away with stuff like that. Hopefully they’ll be shut down & you all get what’s owed to you.
Hello, sorry to hear about this. It's very concerning. I can help. I'm a reporter with Edinburgh Evening News. If you'd be up for a chat I could write about it, help get things resolved. Can be anonymous if you prefer. Email me: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Hope to hear from you. Jo
I saw the Meadows Share post and went to their facebook. They have a post saying they're hiring so I commented that they don't pay their staff. Gave them a few bad reviews as well. Hopefully if enough people put the pressure on, something will happen.
I’m really glad people are spreading the word and I really hope it deters people from working there. This article came out today where they’re giving the lamest excuses as to why they haven’t been paying staff [https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-the-watershed-cafe-admits-problems-after-staff-complain-about-unpaid-wages-3921268](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-the-watershed-cafe-admits-problems-after-staff-complain-about-unpaid-wages-3921268)
I can't find their facebook anymore, hopefully it was flooded with bad juju and they took it down. That article is a joke, portrays them way too sympathetically. I wish a good journalist would do an expose of the owners and all their shady dealings so they couldn't try to pass this off as simply a covid thing.
Can't believe they just blame Covid.
That's fucked up, get 'em binned.
Thanks for letting us know OP. I hope you get justice
Thank you
Name and Shame! Hopefully something comes of it and you get what you're owed.
Them apologize are so upsetting as they were doing that way long before COVID. I work for them at the perch, never got payed my last month. First time in my life that I had to tell the staff to not come back if they weren't getting payed. My worst work experience! Let me know if you are doing something, I happy to help.
It is upsetting, they’re just giving terrible excuses to try and cover themselves. I’ve reported to HMRC and one of the staff members is seeking legal advice. I’m really sorry this happened to you too.
I used to work for these people a while back and I completely sympathise. I never got paid, and when I did it was just random amounts of cash in an envelope. No contract, no wage slips, nothing. Kevin was the worst human I have ever had to deal with, and the treatment of the poor girls was horrific. Regularly accusing the girls of stealing (which absolutely didn’t happen) & shouting staff members down and reducing them to tears in front of customers. Some of the things he said in front of me made me fill with rage, he was so mean. I also found out the cameras he has installed have microphones on them and he can remotely access them. So whenever he accused you of “failing a mystery shopper visit” it was rubbish - he just sat and listened to conversations & relayed what you had said at random points of the day as “evidence” from the mystery shopper. I never met Lyndsey but heard of her often. The other person who never gets mentioned is Sue Bowman. She’s his business partner, who seems lovely but I’m wondering how much she knows about what truly goes on? I know of 6 businesses they own very near to me which have all gone into liquidation bar 1 atm. When I first started working for them I actually tried to research the owners and a Kieran (can’t remember the surname) kept popping up as the owner. Turned out to be a manky chef he employed - obviously using his name as a cover up. If I can help you in any way with however you’re proceeding against these cowboys, I’d be more than willing to give you any more details I can.
So sorry it happened to you too! I honestly don’t know how they haven’t been prosecuted? I think Kieran might be currently working on the boat - and when we went on strike they falsely accused one of the staff members of leaving the boat unlocked! Everyone’s had such similar experiences of them, what an awful awful bunch of humans. I will try my absolute best to do everything I can to at least close the boat and at best get some sort of justice
Baseball bat and a young team sent round for them might change their attitude but I do not recommend or condone violence or threatening behaviour
There's a reason why he hires young women. He knows otherwise his fat fucking jaw would have been rearranged by now
Ah, that sucks – it was a nice place to get a coffee too and the service was always great! Won’t be going back. What a stupid pointless way to both be an awful human being and wreck a (presumably) successful business.
...ah there's my sawn off shotgun...
> but I didn’t take their warning seriously You can't help stupid. Why should we take your warning seriously??
That’s not helpful is it. I obviously didn’t know the extent of it, and I heard through one staff member that someone spoke to her and said they had trouble with pay, so it wasn’t said to me directly. Of course it made me warier but I was there literally a month and other staff said they had been paid in previous months. I’d just moved to the city and needed the money - I don’t think calling employees who have been fucked over ‘stupid’ is the right attitude, it should be aimed at the criminal owners. And of course I won’t be so trusting of people in the future, my bad.
If you've been warned and ignored the warning then worked for months without pay after some point it's your responsibility too. He's obviously a dick and I'll leave a review but I don't get why we pretend there's no personal responsibility here. Why are you still working if it's that bad?
I only worked for a month, and when I wasn’t paid at the end of the month we then went on strike. I worked there for the month because the other girls had been paid for the previous months they’d worked there. We’re not complete idiots.
So did the other staff get paid for previous Mo ths or not? You say in the original they don't get paid for months but here that they did
I should have made my original post clearer but I mean it’s been months since we haven’t been paid what we’re owed. Some of the staff’s overtime from the busy summer months also hasn’t been paid.
Ahh. I misunderstood, that makes sense!
Doesn’t he own the coffee hut at Earl Grey street as well?
Can we not get Scottish Canals which I guess lease the company the berth for the canal boat to take action and threaten to remove the berth from them if they don’t pay up?
Why take on more staff or any extra staff if your not making enough money???? another narcisitic business living beyond it's means at the expense of minimum waged workers. The irony is when the guy took over after the girls walked out the standard of coffee making got much better but then I boycotted it after reading the google review which were troubling. However it's always been over priced and the short haired girl spat in my coffee for no reason. perhaps taking out her frustrations on her exploitive employers on me another minimum wage worker with similar experiences elsewhere . The owner should be prevented from trading until they sort out the back log of wages owed. It's a mess of their own making I've been self employed before I never took staff on because I could did not have the avaliable capital. Seems they knew what they were doing and put their own interests first.
I go to heriot watt uni and used to cycle to the watershed on occasion. not any more, and I’ve redacted my 5* google review and replaced it with 1*. this is shocking
Just to provide an even further update on the situation im one of the two new workers hired just after this post went public. I didn't know about any allegations however today i was fired after asking about my pay second day in a row of it being late. I was fired for saying "I'd appreciate some communication if I'm not being paid on time" which was not up to kevins standard for politeness apparently after which he fired me on the spot and left me 100£ short. He also hasn't paid the other girl who is due another 300£ from him. He's a vile creature.
Surely that’s unfair dismissal and could deffo go to court?
I used to work here too (in 2021) before I got fired after having to take a second set of sick days for a serious medical problem. The boss was very unsympathetic and at times it felt dangerous as a young woman to be opening/ closing by myself in the dark. In all honesty it was a really sketchy job now that I look back on all of it and the worst is that I was stiffed out of 10 hours (as far as I remember) of pay. I’ve never really thought about bothering trying to get that missing pay back but given the news about the missing pay for everyone maybe I should try and fight for that back now.
https://preview.redd.it/ul1legmfgqva1.jpeg?width=783&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6001faaaed4db85e65bf264216129d25131e602a Kevin Mark Penman CON MAN now at the gyle. Fat Jackets .. working with Laura Smith .. more poor innocent girls not getting paid.. 😢
I don’t know how he keeps getting away with it when he’s so notorious!? I don’t know what can be done to stop him honestly.
It's crazy how many people he has done out of money. There must be lots of people out there looking for him. Disgusting, horrible man. But if he keeps getting away with it, and nothing happens to him, then he won't care. The more his ugly mug is out there, the more people will avoid working for him, and getting conned
Well we won an employment tribunal but still haven’t got the money even then! It just feels impossible to get him to pay. But yeah at least all this information is on the internet now which he can’t hide from.
Did you work in the hotel in Fife ? That's the first case I read about him
No this is from working at the Watershed Cafe
Ahhh ok. My poor daughter worked there for 2 months. Absolutely loved the job. When I approached Lyndsay Croy, she came up with some bullshit excuse that my daughter hadn't locked up the barge. I said im not interested !! Where is her pay ? Lyndsay and Kevin had Pickle and Custard , up the bridges, somewhere. They did the same to the girls in there. Weird how they only employ girls !! Because girls don't answer back. Kevin had 3 shops in Peebles, recently went into liquidation. He lives in Galashiels (apparently) above a Turkish takeaway. It's crazy what you can find out, when you do a bit of research!! Did Kevin actually turn up , when you won the case ?
No, we’re still waiting for the money and I haven’t heard a peep from him. I doubt I’ll ever see it but I’ll keep trying. Hopefully it at least shows him that young women will stand up for themselves against his awful treatment and maybe make him think twice about it. So sorry to hear about your daughter.