The upmarket eatery said its practice allows women to “enjoy a romantic evening” with a male chaperone without having to worry about its impact on his wallet.

However, authorities in Peru have ruled that the restaurant’s practice was based on “a chauvinistic construct reinforcing differences between men and women”, The Washington Post reports.

The La Rosa Nautica restaurant, based in Lima, has now been ordered to pay a fine of nearly £50,000 and immediately end the practice, re-train staff and put up anti-discrimination signage.