Restaurant's dividing response to influencer after controversial request

The influencer approached boat restaurant La Peniche to see if they gave influencer rates'. Photo / Supplied

A floating restaurant in Ireland has slammed an influencer, who contacted management asking for a special rate for customers with a large social media following.

The Dublin restaurant, La Peniche, was contacted by the "influencer" who asked whether it offered "influencers rates".

Taking the query to Twitter, the restaurateur asked whether said discounts were "a thing".

"Like we are a #small business and in these times we all need to #supporteachother," they wrote, confirming the 'influencer' had around 100,000 followers.

We just received a message from an #influencer to book a Table this week we gave them times available and they picked one then they replied with have we influencers rates?Is this a thing?Like we are a #smallbusiness and in these times we all need to #supporteachother

— LaPeniche (@LaPeniche3) August 16, 2020

The tweet divided the internet, with some seeing value in the request as it will give the restaurant exposure, while others said everyone should pay their way in full especially given the current climate.

"With that many followers they are probably making a fortune and are the type of people who absolutely do not need a discount," one person wrote.

"Charge them extra," another suggested. "They should not even ask you."

The influencer approached boat restaurant La Peniche to see if they gave influencer rates'. Photo / Supplied

Others, however, said a free meal will be the cheapest advertising they will find.

"They surely have the potential to advertise your business and bring in new customers. All PR and advertising is risky but this is as cheap as you will find it," one user suggested.

"If you don't want to reduce your rate that's understandable, but it may be dismissive not to recognise that someone with such a following could offer your business great exposure," another added.

Another said that the restaurateur's tweet was "rude" and that they shouldn't play the victim card.

I think this is actually pretty common. I'm not an influencer but I am a student and you bet I ask for student discount or offers every chance I get because what's the worst that could happen? They say no? I have been given influencers rate at a meal before so it is normal to ask

— 🌟Rachel Konichiwakitty🎀 (@konichiwakitty) August 18, 2020

The restaurateur defended their decision to tweet, saying that in pre-COVID circumstances, offering a discount to an influencer may have been an option – but said: "It's just these new times are hard."