Cheesy Toast Shack adds £1 'seagull insurance' to menu after birds steal toasties from customers in St Andrews

A small business in St Andrews is considering adding a £1 “seagull insurance” to their menu to curb the expenses of replacing stolen toasties.

Cheesy Toast Shack said they give free replacements to dozens of customers each day, due to seagulls swooping in, attacking people and stealing their food.

Kate Carter-Larg, who owns the shack on East Sands with her husband, said at the height of summer they see around 30 attacks.

In more serious incidents, Kate said she has seen children left in tears with scratches on their face.

Kate Carter-Larg, who owns the shack with her husband, said at the height of summer they see around 30 attacks. Instagram

Kate said those working at the shack make sure they warn every customer to watch out for the seagulls, and there are signs in the surrounding area doing the same.

“A lady in her 70s emailed saying we needed to do more about it after a seagull swooped down and nearly made her roll her ankle, but there’s really nothing we can do,” she added.

She said that most people who lose their toastie – which costs £6.75 per sandwich – get their snack replaced free of charge.

“It’s a busy shop so people could be waiting a really long time, so seeing someone lose out of their toastie after they’ve chosen to spend their money with us isn’t something I could watch.

“If I see an attack happen, I’m straight over offering a free toastie, sometimes people come back to the van expecting to pay again after having their food taken and we give them a free replacement,” she added.

However giving out free food is a cost that has started to add up, which has inspired the decision to add the “seagull insurance”.

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“I know people say the toasties are expensive and assume we are rolling in it but considering the 20% VAT, paying employees as well as buying supplies leaves us with very little profit.”

Kate added that the insurance will be optional for people, so they can get a free replacement should a gull swoop down and take their food.

The insurance is still in the “planning phase” but the owner says she is hoping to implement it next week.