AS the duty manager at the time Charles Hutchinson and his party attended our restaurant in Coppergate on the date in question (Letters, February 24), I must take full responsibility for the non-availability of the table, which, as quite rightly stated by Mr Hutchinson, was pre-booked and entered in our diary.

I make no excuse for the lack of attention to detail except to say that we were very busy on that day and, from the time I started my shift until Mr Hutchinson and his party entered the restaurant, I did not think to look in the diary for any pre-booked tables. I know this is no excuse and I unreservedly apologise to him for any inconvenience caused to himself and his party.

Having said that, I do not think I deserved the very abrupt and curt way in which I was treated by Mr Hutchinson on trying to explain the situation to him.

After all, I am only human and all of us make mistakes at one time or another.

By way of apology, I should like to offer a £5 voucher, paid for by myself with the compliments of Russells restaurants, which will be available for collection at our Coppergate restaurant at any time.

Sharanne McManus,

Duty Manager,

Russells Restaurants,

Coppergate,

York.

Updated: 11:35 Tuesday, February 27, 2001