A WOMAN sporting a Union Jack dress was turned away from a Wetherspoon’s pub amid anti-immigration protests.
Tanya Ostolski said she had been refused service from The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire for her patriotic style on Friday.
The chain has previously faced backlash after flags were banned during the 2018 World Cup
BPMTanya Ostolski, 54, was refused entry to a Wetherspoon’s pub for her Union Jack dress[/caption]
At first the 54-year-old said she was refused entry for carrying a St George’s cross flag.
However, even after she’d put the flag in her bag, they still refused to let her in which she said was attributed to her Union Jack dress.
It has left her concerned that she might be barred in future.
She told Nottinghamshire Live: “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.”
Wetherspoon spokesperson 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 came amid an anti-illegal immigration demonstration in the town, as protesters gathered 50 metres away from the pub.
Protests began at around 4.30pm and had ended by around 7pm.
They were sparked by local Reform MP Lee Anderson who has made an unfounded claim that a man charged with rape in the area is an asylum seeker.
The claim regards a man who was arrested after reportedly raping a woman at Sutton Lawn.
Anderson made the claims on X, despite being advised against it by Nottinghamshire Police as it could interfere with the justice proceedings.
An estimated 300 people attended the protest, with around a dozen counter protesters from Stand Up To Racism present.
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.
The popular pub chain’s “no-flag policy” has seen it face backlash in the past.
During the 2018 World Cup it faced backlash after several of its venues were asked not to display England flags, or any other nation’s flag.
Instead, all 32 nations were represented on bunting decorating the pubs.
This policy was changed for the 2024 Euros, during which the pubs were permitted to display flags.
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