Pub-goers left 'gobsmacked' after being barred from Wetherspoons

Michael Robson, his wife, and their pals were enjoying a few drinks to celebrate the King's Coronation in The Obediah Brooke, Cleckheaton, on Saturday.

A member of the group, who were regulars at the pub for over a decade, had brought with them half a dozen small four-inch paper horns emblazoned with Union flags.

"We kept on blowing them, but not all the time, and others joined in," said Mr Robson, 68.

"We had three or four drinks enjoying ourselves.

"(At around 6.30pm), one of the managers grabbed the horns and she said 'you can have them when you leave at the end of the night'.

"Even children get warned first but they didn't even give us one. We were gobsmacked and have been annoyed ever since."

The Obediah Brooke in Cleckheaton (Image: David Webb)

The group had been in The Obediah Brooke for around three hours when they were told to "drink up and leave" by a security guard.

They decided to move to the pub round the corner, The Old House, to finish their night.

Wetherspoon says the group were "politely asked" several times to stop blowing their trumpets before turning "abusive".

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "The customers were politely asked, on several occasions, to stop blowing their trumpets in the pub.

"We appreciate that they may have wished to celebrate the Coronation but the repeated noise was causing disturbance to the staff and other customers.

"When they refused the final request, and in the process used abusive language towards the manager on duty, they were asked to leave the premises."

But Mr Robson said: "We would like an apology to clear our names.

"I know there is no music at Wetherspoons but you are allowed to have a laugh and a bit of fun surely.

"We weren't falling about, we are always cheerful and had no problem with anyone.

"I tried going back in on Sunday but was told that we are barred."

James Patterson took to Facebook to highlight what had happened to his friends.

He said: "So Wetherspoons Cleckheaton, has barred a group of local people for celebrating the Coronation.

"The group are in their sixties and seventies.

“Who in their right mind would bar a group of retired royalists on the day of the King’s Coronation?”