A documentary has exposed how restaurants rank customers according to looks and place the people they deem to be pleasing to the eye at the front while hiding the less attractive ones at the back.
Channel 4's four-part series, "Tricks of the Restaurant Trade", sent models into three top London restaurants where they were given "golden tables" - prominent seats near the front.
But those considered to be less attractive were relegated to the areas near the kitchen or toilets - or were even simply told there were no tables available.
Two restaurateurs interviewed for the show admitted such discrimination is common practice.