Latest news with #Wetherspoon's
The Irish Sun
26-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Woman turned away from Wetherspoons for wearing Union Jack dress ‘absolutely disgusted' over policy
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 Advertisement 2 The chain has previously faced backlash after flags were banned during the 2018 World Cup 2 Tanya Ostolski, 54, was refused entry to a Wetherspoon's pub for her Union Jack dress Credit: BPM 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 It has left her concerned that she might be barred in future. She told Advertisement Read more News "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.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun It came amid an Protests began at around 4.30pm and had ended by around 7pm. 'Epping migrant protester' is arrested at home as ring of steel ramps up They were sparked by local Reform MP The claim regards a man who was arrested after Advertisement 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 At one point in the evening, police guarded the entrance to the Wetherspoon pub after protesters like Tanya complained about being turned away. Advertisement 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 Instead, all 32 nations were represented on bunting decorating the pubs. This policy was changed Advertisement
Scottish Sun
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Woman turned away from Wetherspoons for wearing Union Jack dress ‘absolutely disgusted' over policy
Around 300 protesters gathered in the town on Friday PUB SNUB Woman turned away from Wetherspoons for wearing Union Jack dress 'absolutely disgusted' over policy 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. Advertisement 2 The chain has previously faced backlash after flags were banned during the 2018 World Cup 2 Tanya Ostolski, 54, was refused entry to a Wetherspoon's pub for her Union Jack dress Credit: BPM 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. Advertisement Read more News MONSTER MOCKED Evil Huntley mocked by lags as he's forced to move cells after victim taunts "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.' Advertisement 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. 'Epping migrant protester' is arrested at home as ring of steel ramps up 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wetherspoon's boosted by April sunshine as investment grows
JD Wetherspoon expects a 'reasonable' outcome for the year after unseasonably warm weather helped the pub group offset higher costs at the start of the year. The group told investors on Wednesday like-for-like sales were up 5.6 per cent over the 13 weeks to 27 April, though total sales were up by 5 per cent reflecting a 'small number' of pub disposals over the period. Wetherspoon's has sold seven pubs since the star of the year, but opened two, leaving it with 795 venues in total. Having previously revealed a target of 1,000, Wetherspoon's said it intends to open 'four or five' new pubs this financial year and 'approximately 10' in 2026. But the group also spent £17million on seven freehold reversions, whereby Wetherspoon's buys pubs in which it was previously the tenant. An additional seven pubs now operate under a franchise agreement, four of which opened during the last quarter, all operated by Haven Holiday Parks. Chairman Tim Martin also noted fresh investment in new staff facilities across 520 pubs, with 49 completed in the current year, including staff rooms and changing rooms. The group has lined up staff facility investment for approximately 270 more of its pubs in the future at a cost of around £100,000 per venue. Martin also highlighted the group's growing product range, with the arrival of Jaipur traditional ale, Kronenbourg 1664 Biere and Poretti all proving popular additions to the bar. As a result of this investment, Wetherspoon's expects to end its financial year with debt of £720million to £740million, with headroom of approximately £200million. Martin added: 'Bearing in mind that recent trading has been helped by favourable weather, the company anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, notwithstanding previously reported wage and tax increases of approximately £1.2million per week.' JD Wetherspoon shares were down 0.5 per cent at 684.5p in early trading. They have added 12 per cent since the beginning of the year. Robinhood UK lead analyst Dan Lane said: 'Sales are in a good place and there is a clear focus on getting the pub count up but also making sure these are quality sites that the UK public wants to go to. 'Slowly does it though, as the property footprint still sits slightly below the 800 mark, against the 1,000 the group has previously targeted.' Lane added that the market has so far largely 'shrugged off' Wetherspoon's debt pile, while the group's near immunity from US tariff pressures 'has kept its interest despite inflationary pressures'. He said: 'No news of price hikes today and Martin will be hoping to weather any further uptick in inflation before he's forced to erode the chain's main selling point with a lift to the price of a pint. 'If the Bank of England drops interest rates tomorrow, we might see even more attention paid to businesses like this, naturally shielded from tariff headlines and already reinvesting in themselves for the long term.'
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Wales Online
Moment football fan kicks elderly man to head in 'sea of thugs'
Moment football fan kicks elderly man to head in 'sea of thugs' The chaotic scenes included kicking, punching and spitting from a mass of hooligans Police have released footage of a fierce brawl between more than 50 football hooligans in Newport city centre. Last week one Newport County fan was jailed over the violent disorder while two others narrowly avoided prison. A fight between Newport and Eastleigh supporters broke out on the evening of January 6, 2024, following a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round. CCTV shows one Newport fan, Samuel Grant, kicking an elderly man to the head as well as unhinged violence from hooligans including Joseph Friel and Wayne Thomas. Cardiff Crown Court heard the fracas began at 6.25pm outside the Wetherspoon pub in Cambrian Road. The judge, Recorder Andrew Hammond, said the brawlers were "groups I might loosely describe as supporters of both clubs but whose values have nothing to do with the sportsmanship and respect inherent in football". "Numerous individuals were punching, kicking, stamping, putting each other in headlocks, and throwing objects at each other," said Recorder Hammond. "Two rival groups broke off and renewed the violence in waves of attacks on each other. In one particularly troubling part of the footage, an elderly man walking slowly with the assistance of a younger woman was targeted, and repeatedly punched." Samuel Grant, 24, aimed a forceful punch at the face of the elderly man, who fell to the ground. "In a particularly cowardly act you, Grant, then kicked him as he lay on the floor, either to his upper torso or his face," said the judge. Prosecutor Anisha Rai said the disorder started when then-17-year-old Exiles fan, Wayne Thomas, left the County supporters pub Bar Amber and walked past Wetherspoon's, where he goaded Eastleigh fans who were drinking outside. Thomas initiated the fight by throwing the first punch. He fled the scene after the initial scuffle but set off a "chain reaction" of violence, the court heard. Article continues below Left to right: Samuel Grant, Joseph Friel and Wayne Thomas (Image: Gwent Police / Conor Gogarty ) Newport fans ran into Bar Amber to get reinforcements, prompting a flood of supporters to join the melee outside Wetherspoon's. One of those was Grant, who swung an arm at someone who was backing away. He punched another man directly to the face, before targeting the elderly victim whom he kicked to the head. Joseph Friel, a 22-year-old among the crowd to emerge from Bar Amber, could be seen hitting one Eastleigh fan to the face and then punching another several times. When police arrived, most brawlers sprinted off but Friel lingered, spitting at a man who was lying on the ground. Thomas and Friel, both from Pontypool, and Grant, from Newport, all admitted violent disorder. Hilary Roberts, for Thomas, said his 18-year-old client had no previous convictions and had experienced "a lot of stress" because of the delay in the case coming to court. "A raft of people have spoken well of him," said Mr Roberts. "He is a decent young man. He recognises how wrong he was, and he says, 'If I was sober I would have walked away.' He is very careful of how much he drinks now." Will Bebb, for Grant, acknowledged his client already had a conviction for football-related violence, an affray from April 2022, but said he had gained new insights from the community order and unpaid work he recently completed for that offence. "There is a real development in his psyche," said Mr Bebb, who also pointed to his recent hiring as a door-to-door salesman. "He has overcome his substance issues and he has had a diagnosis of epilepsy, which is now well-managed." Emma Harris, for Friel, said: "At the age of 18 he suffered an incident related to football which has clearly given him a very different perception of risk. A psychiatric assessment has indicated he is someone who has a very different perception of any harm that may be caused to him." She added that he had no previous convictions and had found the court case "a very difficult environment" because of his mental health issues. Grant cried as he was imprisoned by Recorder Hammond, who said he had been "continually in the centre of the fight" and had "shamefully" punched and kicked an obviously vulnerable elderly man. The judge imposed a 28-month jail term on Grant. Recorder Hammond noted that an expert had concluded Friel "probably" had autism and may have bipolar disorder. He also took into account the probation service's assessment of Friel as posing a low risk of harm. The judge imposed a 20-month prison term on Friel, suspended for two years. He must complete 12 mental health treatment sessions and 10 days of rehabilitation activity, and pay a £300 fine and £150 in prosecution costs. The judge said Thomas was "the person who started this whole incident" but also acknowledged his young age and his decision to leave the scene instead of continuing to fight. He imposed 18 months in a young offender institution suspended for 24 months, 150 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activity and £150 in prosecution costs All three defendants were handed five-year football banning orders. In an earlier court hearing, a 16-year-old boy who pleaded guilty to violent disorder received a six-month referral order to the Newport Youth Offender panel. The judge praised the brave actions of PC Jade Butterworth, the first uniformed police officer on the scene. He said she displayed "extraordinary personal courage" to protect the elderly victim in "a sea of dark-clad thugs". A Newport County spokesperson said: 'We welcome today's decision by the court. There is no place for this abhorrent behaviour and we will continue to work closely with Gwent Police to help identify any incidents of this nature. 'The club will maintain its zero-tolerance approach to such incidents, whether that's at Rodney Parade, the city centre or for away fixtures, and the imposition of banning orders, as a minimum, for anyone found guilty of such behaviour. Article continues below 'Newport County has worked tirelessly to create a reputation as a family-friendly football club and it is an image we will do everything in our powers to maintain.'
The Guardian
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
In Kent, the ‘silent Reform voter' may give Nigel Farage his greatest victory
Nigel Farage grinned as he clutched an inflatable blue lilo at a seaside shop in Ramsgate just hours after holding a press conference about immigration. 'It's Reform colours, that's what it is,' he joked to the throng of press photographers, possibly tickled by its resemblance to the migrant dinghies that wash up on the nearby beaches. Dressed in a blue suit and £300 Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses with built-in cameras, Farage had embarked on a busy day of campaigning across three towns in Kent, one week out from England's local elections. It was just after 2pm and the sun was shining over Ramsgate where Farage, 61, began his whistle-stop tour by eating cockles and talking to scrap metalworkers. But his walk to the Royal Victoria Pavilion, the largest Wetherspoon's pub in the country, was interrupted several times by people wanting selfies and asking questions. One man, a former newspaper journalist, grilled the politician about his assertion that Reform UK could ultimately usurp the Conservatives. Farage told the man: 'Our voters loathe the Conservative party. [Making a deal with them] is the last thing they'd ever want me to do. And frankly, if I do a deal with someone, I shake their hand, I look them in the eye and I trust them. I don't trust them.' As Farage attempted to move on, drinkers outside the Queen's Head pub cheered. An older man in a hi-vis jacket patted him on the arm and said: 'You've got my vote.' Farage is a man who likes an audience and Ramsgate is certainly a place where he wouldn't expect to get a rough ride. But, to the horror of the Conservative party, and many in Labour too, the signs are that Reform UK is making a genuine impact across the country. Keir Starmer's government, still less than a year into a five-year term, is unpopular. The Tories under Kemi Badenoch appear still in shock from last year's general election implosion. Ever the opportunist, Farage has seen the gap and charged into it. And next week could be quite a moment for him. Earlier this week, Robert Hayward, a pollster and Conservative peer, said he believed Farage would win up to 450 seats while the Conservatives would lose up to 525 in the local elections. Reform was also said to be on course to win two mayoral contests, according to a YouGov poll released on Friday. This despite, or perhaps because of, his willingness to cause offence and peddle populist ideas. On Thursday, his assertion that the UK is 'massively overdiagnosing those with mental health illness problems' was predictably provocative. The National Autistic Society said his remarks were 'incorrect, wrong, fake news'. He has described net zero as 'lunacy' and vowed to scrap carbon targets entirely. So far, there is little sign of any lasting damage to his brand from his relationship with Donald Trump, or the fact he has seemed sympathetic to Vladimir Putin. One of his own MPs, Rupert Lowe, even condemned him for being the messianic leader of a protest party. None of this appeared to worry the voters at the Wetherspoon's pub in Ramsgate, where he ordered a pint of Doom Bar. His burly security guards hovered nearby as there were more photo opportunities, this time with five male Reform candidates wearing rosettes. But before he could finish his pint, Farage was approached by a 57-year-old man who said he has struggled to find work since moving back to Ramsgate from Spain. He feared he was being discriminated against, he said. 'But I believe in what you're doing,' he told Farage. 'I would love to meet up with you some time and have a chat, if there's anything I can do.' Farage introduced the man to the party's local chair before heading upstairs to the balcony overlooking the harbour for an arranged interview with the Daily Mail. After finishing up, he had a cigarette in the sunshine while surrounded by the council candidates, including 75-year-old Trevor Shonk, a former Ramsgate mayor, and Ukip and Tory councillor who recently defected to Reform. In 2014, Shonk told the BBC's World at One programme that Britain had become a 'racist' country because Conservative and Labour governments had let in too many immigrants. Shonk, who campaigned for Farage when he stood in Thanet South, his seventh unsuccessful attempt to enter parliament, said door-to-door campaigning in recent weeks had gone so well that people had been chasing him down the streets, saying: 'Trevor, we're voting for you and Reform.' As Farage and his mostly male entourage prepared to leave the pub to drive to Sittingbourne, their final stop of the day, a group of young men at the New Belgium Bar opposite cheered and asked for selfies. 'He's a man of the people, he's not stuck up, he's more like a commoner like us,' one said of the privately educated MP for Clacton. 'He's definitely got the celebrity status.' The longtime Eurosceptic politician reportedly made a joke about the name of the drinking establishment, saying: 'Why are you drinking in the Belgian bar?' One drinker recognised Zia Yusuf, the Reform party chair, who was by Farage's side, but, the man said 'he just walked off because nobody was giving him any attention'. Similarly, inside the Wetherspoon's pub, one woman who seemingly had no idea who Yusuf was had reportedly asked if he could take a photo of her with Farage. Yusuf is said to have politely declined before walking off. After Farage departed, Karl Serveld, who manages Peter's Fish Factory, said the politician seemed to be the only person listening to local concerns about immigration. 'Not everybody would voice their opinion because we all know the racism card comes out. But it's not about race, it's about money being spent and we're not seeing any benefit of it,' he said. Kent county council has been run by the Conservatives since 1997 but an Electoral Calculus poll of 5,400 people predicted last month that Reform UK would take control. Serveld said that he hoped Reform would change Kent so 'the normal working man was looked after'. Earlier, at the Best Western hotel in Dover, about 20 miles (32km) away, Farage had held a press conference in which he announced Reform would be appointing a minister for deportations. Introduced on stage as Britain's next prime minister by Yusuf, Farage reeled off a bunch of statistics about immigration. 'We're in Dover because it was here in 2020, just as the pandemic was kicking in and lockdown was starting, that I began to go out from this port to film the migrant boats crossing,' he said. 'I said that, frankly, you might as well put up a sign on the white cliffs of Dover, [saying] 'everyone welcome'. And I predicted there would be an invasion, the word that got me in very big trouble, but have a look at the numbers that have come.' Farage claimed there had been a trend of Palestinians from Gaza making the crossing in recent weeks. 'Frankly, letting people in from war zones, young males of fighting age from war zones, when you don't know what their involvement in those areas might have been, is an incredibly dangerous thing to do,' he said. His words were echoed by one of the two would-be Kent councillors filming his address from the front row. 'It does feel like an invasion. And if they're coming from war zones, where are the women and children? They're all fighting age men and that's scary,' said Paul King, the chair of Reform's Dover and Deal branch and a candidate for Dover West. With a blue rosette pinned to his dark suit, the 56-year-old said he had been heartened by the local support after delivering thousands of leaflets in recent weeks. 'Virtually everybody I speak to is fully behind us. Not very many people want to be publicly supporting us, but privately they do, like a silent Reform voter.' King, who lives in a village outside Dover, blamed the silent majority on the public's fear of being labelled racist. But he said Farage's distancing of Tommy Robinson had worked in the party's favour: 'Because then we could actually explain that we're not far right, we're not racist. Our chairman is a Sri Lankan Muslim. We've got homosexual candidates. We've got people of colour. We're a meritocracy.' Pauline Bailey, the campaign manager of the Dover and Deal branch, said there had been an uplift in support since last year's general election when she was spat at and called names while leafleting. 'Now they're grabbing papers off me,' the 62-year-old claimed.
