A BEACHFRONT cafe’s new seagull insurance has taken off — and raked in £800 in its first week.
Owner Sam Larg, 39, feared he might scare punters away with the optional £1 charge to protect their sarnies.
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But it has led to curious customers flocking to the Cheesy Toast Shack in St Andrews, Fife.
In its first seven days of operation, 800 opted for the fee to protect their toasties, which cost roughly £6 each — and Sam has only had to replace 12.
Sam said: “It’s been a roaring success. At first I was worried talking about the seagulls might put people off.
“But it caught people’s attention and sent visitor numbers through the roof. We didn’t expect this at all.”
Sam and wife Kate have been struggling to cope with the winged thieves swooping down and nicking the food.
They have seen customers with cut fingers and scratched faces as the birds help themselves to the grub.
The couple were happy to replace the sarnies but it was costing them hundreds of pounds a week.
They floated the gull insurance idea and were stunned when it quickly caught on.
Sam said: “I would say about one in five customers go for it. For some, that’s the reason they’ve come to see us.”
But Sam is not going to pocket the cash — he will be handing all the profits from the unusual scheme to charity.
He added: “The money will be going to a good cause at the end of the month. I think most customers see it as a positive thing for them and for the community.”
Sam and Kate have introduced measures to deter the gulls, including playing bird of prey noises and flying a kite.
This Morning host Rylan Clark quizzed Kate about it and said he was “obsessed” with the insurance idea.
