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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Grandmother refused entry to Wetherspoons pub because she was wearing a Union Jack dress vows to never return
A grandmother who was refused entry to a Wetherspoons pub because she was wearing a Union Jack dress has vowed never to return despite being a regular for nearly 30 years. Tanya Ostolski, 54, tried to enter The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, after attending an anti-migrant protest in the area on Friday, July 25. Dozens of protesters had gathered in the town centre from around 4.30pm after Reform MP Lee Anderson went against police advice to make an unverified claim that a local man charged with rape was an asylum seeker. It followed similar anti-migrant demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, near Essex, and the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf in central London, in recent weeks. After marching in the protest, Tanya made her way to her local Wetherspoons where she claims she was denied entry due to her outfit. The bouncer's refusal to let her in angered other protesters in her group, who were also turned away. A spokesperson for Wetherspoons 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. She claimed witnesses defended her - calling the bouncers actions 'unfair' as she wasn't 'causing any trouble'. Tanya said: 'I had the flag tied around my waist. He said I couldn't come in and asked me to put the flag away. '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. 'I asked for a valid reason. 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. People came up to me and said it was really unfair. 'I've heard I won't be welcome back or I might be barred.' JD Wetherspoons has a 'no flag' policy which prohibits the pubs from hanging the England flag - a policy that received backlash during the 2018 World Cup. But during the men's Euro 2024, the popular chain overturned the rule and allowed their pubs to hang the England flag during the summer tournament. In a statement given to Nottingham Post, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon 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.' It comes after a schoolgirl was put into isolation for wearing a Union Jack dress to celebrate being British at her school's culture day. 'Straight A' student Courtney Wright, 12, wore the Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a speech about history and traditions as part of the celebrations on July 11. But the Year 7 pupil was told the dress was 'unacceptable' before being hauled out of lessons and made to sit in reception until her father collected her. Stuart Field, 47, said he was 'gobsmacked' to learn she had been segregated from her peers due to her choice of attire at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire. He added that while other pupils with St George's and Welsh flags were also turned away, students were allowed in burkas, niqabs and traditional Nigerian clothing. The school contacted Mr Field over the weekend and have since apologised for the move Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, said: 'Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. 'She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating British culture and history; nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it.' The father added: 'Another with a St Georges flag and another with a Welsh flag were not allowed in either. It was ridiculous. It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn't allowed. 'It's ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people. 'Others were allowed in burkas, niqabs or traditional Nigerian clothing.' Following outrage to the decision, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The PM has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated. 'You can see that from everything this government has done. We are a tolerant, diverse, open country, proud of being British.' Mr Field said Courtney wanted to wear the dress to celebrate being British, the Spice Girls and the freedom of being able to wear a dress. 'This was her interpretation of British culture and what it means to her,' he said. 'Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
I was kicked out of Wetherspoons for wearing Union Jack dress – staff's four cruel words mean I'll never go back
A WOMAN who was wearing a Union Jack dress and was refused entry to a Wetherspoon's pub has said she'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
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Woman in Union Jack dress was turned away from Wetherspoons during anti-migrants protest
A woman wearing a Union Jack dress was turned away from a Wetherspoons so as 'not to increase tensions' after an anti-migrant protest in the area. Tanya Ostolski, 54, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, says she was knocked back from The Picture House last night, despite being a regular in the pub. Dozens of protestors had gathered in the town centre from around 4.30pm after Reform MP Lee Anderson went against police advice to make an unverified claim that a local man charged with rape was an asylum seeker. It followed similar anti-migrant demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, near Essex, and the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf in central London, in recent weeks. Last night's protests in Sutton-in-Ashfield had ended at around 7pm when protestors made their way back to the where the gathering began, around 50 metres from the pub. Many of those who took to the streets were waving Union flags or were wrapped in the St George's Cross flag and had sought to get into the pub after the demonstrations were over. But clashes with bouncers outside the pub quickly ensued when they were denied access due to a 'no-flag' policy deployed by Wetherspoons in their establishments. Ms Ostolski says she was holding a St George's Cross flag when she was first refused entry by bouncers on the door, before putting it in her bag in the hope that would allow her access. But the 54-year-old said she was 'absolutely disgusted' when she was told by those on the doors that she still wasn't allowed in because of her dress. She said: 'I go in there all the time and they refused entry. They didn't let me in with my flag, the flag is the English flag, so why shouldn't I be allowed to have an English flag? 'It's our flag, it's our nation's flag. I wasn't being aggressive or anything I didn't get lairy or anything. I put the flag back in my bag, and they said I can't come in because of my dress. 'They kept refusing me. I'm probably going to get barred now. They just said Tanya, you're not coming in. I feel absolutely disgusted, why should I be refused entry for wearing a dress or a flag?' The spokesman for Wetherspoons, Eddie Gershon, said the decision was made to ensure calm in the area and 'as a matter of common sense'. 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.' Ms Ostolski's knockback comes just days after a schoolgirl was put into isolation for wearing a similar Union Jack dress to celebrate being British at her school's culture day. 'Straight A' student Courtney Wright, 12, wore a Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a speech about history and traditions as part of the celebrations on July 11. But the Year 7 pupil was told the dress was 'unacceptable' before being hauled out of lessons and made to sit in reception until her father collected her. Downing Street would go on to condemn that decision, with a spokesperson for the Prime Minister saying: 'The PM has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated. 'You can see that from everything this government has done. We are a tolerant, diverse, open country, proud of being British.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Man, 27, is charged with three counts of rape after woman was 'attacked in park'
A man has been charged with rape after a woman was 'attacked in a park'. The victim was allegedly attacked at Sutton Lawn, Sutton-in-Ashfield between 9pm and 10pm on Sunday, June 29. Specially trained officers supported the victim while a team of detectives began an investigation. Sheraz Malik, 27, of Bath Street, Sutton Ashfield has been charged with three counts of rape and possesion of cannabis. He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, July 22, and was remanded in custody until 19 August 2025. Detective Inspector Nicole Milner, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'The victim continues to be supported by officers and has been informed about this important development in our investigation. 'We know the incident caused concern in the Sutton-in-Ashfield area.' Investigations continue into the incident and anyone who has any relevant information should call 101, quoting incident 19 of 30 June 2025, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Man charged with rape after woman attacked in park
A man has been charged with rape following an attack on a woman in a park in Sutton-in-Ashfield. The incident happened at Sutton Lawn between 21:00 BST and 22:00 on 29 June, Nottinghamshire Police said. Sheraz Malik, 27, of Bath Street in Sutton-in-Ashfield, has now been charged with three counts of rape and possession of cannabis. He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on 19 August. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Related internet links Nottinghamshire Police
