I was kicked out of Wetherspoons for wearing Union Jack dress – staff's four cruel words mean I'll never go back
Wearing her patriotic dress, Tanya Ostolski, 54, was told "you're not coming in" despite being a regular for nearly 30 years.
3
3
Tanya was trying to visit The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, when she was barred entry.
The events followed an anti-illegal immigration protest that took place 50 metres away from the pub in Nottingham town centre on Friday July 25 which Tanya attended.
After marching in the protest, Tanya made her way to the local Wetherspoons but was denied entry due to her dress, despite putting away the flag she was carrying, she says.
The decision caused anger amongst some protesters who clashed with bouncers on Friday evening as they were also denied entry, they said.
A spokesperson for Wetherspoons has confirmed the pub asked customers with flags and placards not to enter so as not to "increase tension".
Tanya said: "I'm disgusted, I won't be going back there.
"I go in there all the time and I wasn't causing any trouble.
"The whole day was a peaceful protest, I'm a grandma and I've never caused any bother.
"I just can't believe this was all over a flag - it was really upsetting, I didn't do anything wrong."
According to Tanya, she was first refused entry because she was carrying a St George's cross flag but after putting it away she was still refused entry.
She claims witnesses defended her at the time, calling the bouncers actions "unfair" as she wasn't "causing any trouble".
Tanya added that she had the flag tied around her waist and was asked to put the flag away and that she couldn't come in.
"But I had flags all over my dress and then I was told I can't come in at all - I was really confused, it's just a flag," Tanya said.
"I asked for a valid reason and they just kept saying you're not coming in.
"I'm not aggressive and didn't want to cause trouble, so I just walked away.
"I've heard I won't be welcome back or I might be barred."
The protest was sparked after Reform MP Lee Anderson made an unfounded claim that a local man charged with rape was an asylum seeker.
Anderson made the claims on X, despite being advised against it by Nottinghamshire Police as it could interfere with the justice proceedings.
The claim regards a man who was arrested after reportedly raping a woman at Sutton Lawn.
An estimated 300 people attended the earlier protest, with around a dozen counter protesters from Stand Up To Racism also present.
Protests began at around 4.30pm and had ended by around 7pm.
Anger was directed towards Sir Keir Starmer, with people chanting "stop the boats".
At one point in the evening, police guarded the entrance to the Wetherspoon pub after protesters like Tanya complained about being turned away.
JD Wetherspoons has a "no flag" policy which was prohibits the pubs from hanging the England flag.
The move caused backlash from pubgoers during the 2018 football World Cup.
But during the men's Euro 2024, the popular chain overturned it's policy and allowed the pubs to hang the England flag during the summer tournament.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon commented in response to the incident in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
He said: "Pub managers have a duty under the licensing laws, and as a matter of common sense, to judge every situation on its particular circumstances.
"In this case, the pub manager felt that it was important not to increase tensions.
"Therefore, on this occasion the manager asked customers not to enter with flags or any placards."
3
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
28 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Appeals for witnesses to deaths of man and woman during Troubles
Fresh appeals have been made for witnesses to separate deaths of a man and a woman in west Belfast during the Troubles. The families of Teresa Carson and loyalist William Marchant have been described as waiting for many years for answers about the deaths of their loved ones. Advertisement These appeals will involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations. Ms Carson (47) was found dead at the side of the Glen Road in the early hours of Sunday, November 24th, 1974. It is understood she had witnessed a robbery St John's GAC Social Club on Whiterock Road hours before. She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12.15am getting into a white coloured car. Advertisement Mr Marchant (39), who was also known as Billy or Frenchie, was shot outside the Progressive Unionist Party offices on Shankill Road at approximately 3pm on April 28th, 1987, and later died in hospital. A brown coloured Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack. It had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight at Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast. The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery has launched appeals for witnesses to come forward in relation to investigations into both deaths following requests from the victims' families. Advertisement Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan said their families asked the Commission to help them find out what happened to their loved ones. 'We have always underlined the Commission's unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals,' she said. Ireland UK defence ministry obliged to preserve records re... Read More 'The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations. 'These families have waited many years for answers and we at the Commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward.' Advertisement She added: 'No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence.'
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rat sightings spark action call over York fly-tipping
A councillor has begged for action to be taken after rubbish fly-tipped at a notorious dumping spot began attracting waste has been left around overflowing recycling bins in a car park at the Morrisons store in Acomb, resident Craig Smith said the fly-tipping had been a problem for years and bin bags often split, attracting of York Council said there were plans to put more skips at the site along with signs warning against fly-tipping, but that the landowners were responsible for clearing the waste. Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Waller called on the council to address the issue, which he said was getting said broken furniture was now being left in the car park along with other rubbish, including waste paper. Mr Smith, who has lived on adjacent Lowfield Drive for 12 years, said he had seen washing machines, fridges, car body parts and "an endless amount of other items" dumped added: "I've seen a couple of rats, including one dead in the car park."I had a rat in my garden about a month ago and that was the final straw, my wife's since seen one there – it's disgusting."Waller confirmed efforts to get the council to intervene were "ongoing" and said CCTV was needed to help with enforcement."All this fly-tipping has added to the demands on the council's caged van teams who have a huge amount of material to remove on top of the other needs to respond to fly-tipping," he said. Tanya Lyon, the council's community safety manager, said fly-tipping was taken "very seriously" with perpetrators fined up to £1,000 or said the council was working alongside its waste disposal company to put warning signs on the recycling bins and the viability of installing CCTV was also being added: "On private land, fly-tipping will be investigated, but landowners are responsible for clearance."The Local Democracy Reporting Service said it understood Morrisons had been in contact with the council over the issue, but the supermarket chain had declined to comment councillor Emily Nelson, Labour's ward member for Westfield, said anyone with information that could help with taking action against the fly-tipping should come forward. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
New drink driving campaign targets young men at festivals
Young male drivers are being targeted by a new campaign about the dangers of drink Yorkshire Vision Zero said 130 people were killed or seriously injured in 2023 in collisions involving drivers or motorcyclists under the influence of drugs or organisation, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, said the "Drink a little. Risk a lot" campaign aimed to highlight the consequences of driving while under the Yorkshire Police said in the summer of 2024 more than 600 arrests for drink and drug driving were made - equivalent to six a day. The campaign has been launched nationally by Think, the government's designated road safety for the future of roads, Lilian Greenwood, said: "The consequences of drinking before driving can be life-changing - from losing your licence to injuring or even killing yourself or someone else."Our campaign targets high-risk young male drivers, with the message that drink driving is never worth the risk."The maximum penalty for causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs is 14 years in prison, with a minimum driving ban of two years. The campaign will target its audience throughout the summer via social media, gaming sites, radio and outdoor and in-pub will also be visible at music festivals including Leeds Festival in Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime Alison Lowe OBE also chairs the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership and said they wanted people to enjoy their summer."But if you're driving, please don't do so under the influence."We don't want anyone to experience the pain and devastation of losing a loved one in a crash and we are doing all we can to reduce these incidents to zero."West Yorkshire Police said it was clear too many drivers still believed it was acceptable to take the Chris Robinson said: "Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts yourself and other road users at serious risk."Think about your own fitness to drive and encourage family and friends to find another way home if they have been drinking or taking drugs." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
