Woman told to cover up in Wetherspoons because her gym gear was ‘too revealing’

A woman said she was made to feel like a ‘piece of dirt’ after a Wetherspoons employee told her to cover up her outfit.

Georgia Toomey had popped to The Tollemache Inn in Grantham, Lincolnshire, after finishing a workout at the gym when a female staff member ‘looked her up and down’ and told her to zip her top in the ‘family friendly pub’.

The cleaner said she and her boyfriend went to the beer garden, planning to order from the app, but left after the same worker kept coming outside to look at them.

Georgia, who was wearing a gym set, said: ‘I think it’s ridiculous. It’s only sports wear, and you shouldn’t feel like you can’t wear it.

‘I can wear it in the gym, so why can’t I wear it in Wetherspoons? She just wanted me to do it up, which I think is stupid. If it were somewhere in London, I would get it – but it’s not, it’s Spoons in Grantham.

‘You should be able to wear what you want and shouldn’t be sexualised in gym wear.’

‘She looked me up and down like a piece of dirt. It’s not like I’m big-chested, either – I was showing a bit of cleavage, but that’s it. I’m sure girls have worn much more revealing stuff in there,’ she added.

Georgia complained to the pub but says they ‘lied’ by telling her she had been ‘refused service and asked to leave’, which she claims did not happen.

After leaving the pub, Georgia searched online and found that patrons are able to wear sportswear, and one man online said he had gone to the same location shirtless with no issue.

In an email reply to her, the pub chain said: Most of our pubs are family environments, so we ask our customers to dress appropriately and in a way which would not cause offence.

‘All customers must be fully clothed throughout their visit. The company does not permit the removal of shirts or footwear. In addition, some pubs operate specific dress codes at all or certain times.

‘I appreciate that you were not satisfied by the way in which the incident was handled. Having discussed your feedback with the pub’s manager, I understand that you were refused service and were asked to leave.’

But later, the pub backtracked and agreed that Georgia had not been asked to leave and she was ‘very welcome to return’.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: ‘It’s always a matter of fine judgement for pub managers where sportswear is concerned.

‘In this case, the customer was asked if she would mind zipping up her gym top, to which she kindly agreed. She was not asked to leave and is very welcome to return to the pub in the future.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.