A WOMAN who was wearing a Union Jack dress when she 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.
BPMA woman who was wearing a Union Jack dress was refused entry to a Wetherspoon’s pub[/caption]
SWNSTanya Ostolski had attended an anti-illegal immigration protest that day[/caption]
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 not allowed in.
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.”
SWNSTanya has said she won’t be going back despite being a regular for nearly 30 years[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
