Morning:
8°c
Pub bars grandmother for wearing beret
Jamie Welham9 Feb 2010
A grandmother was barred from a pub after she refused to take off her purple beret.
Shirley Phelan, 77, had gone for lunch with her daughter at the Prince Alfred, which has been in Bayswater since the 19th century and has recently had a gastro pub-style refurbishment.
The beret was a Christmas present from one of her grandchildren. “When we went in, one bar girl shouted to another not to serve us unless I take my beret off,” said Mrs Phelan, who was on crutches after a hip operation.
“There was no sign anywhere saying no hats' and I couldn't understand why they wouldn't let me keep my hat on. They should be able to use discretion for someone my age. I don't think I look like a terrorist.”
A spokesman for Glendola Leisure Group said the policy was “for customers' safety and security to ensure that clear CCTV images can be obtained if necessary”.
Mrs Phelan, who lives in Bayswater, was an apprentice to Sir Norman Hartnell, the dressmaker to the Queen, in the Fifties and worked as a clerk in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Marylebone before retiring aged 70.
Her daughter Maria said: “I never thought that at 55 I would be thrown out of a pub with my 77-year-old mother because of a beret.”
Reader views (11)
Boycot the dump!
What if some poor soul was wearing a hat to avoid embarrassment over hair loss or a disfigurement?
Cheeky obnoxious staff.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 10/02/2010 10:01
Report abuse
This is actually my Grandmother and its hillarious that a 77 year old Woman in winter cant wear a hat in a pub!
- Sean Phelan, London, 09/02/2010 22:57
Report abuse
So is the Prince Alfred pub predjudiced against all hats, old ladies, or just berets? I doubt if I will ever visit this pub, and it is a real shame when pubs get very choosy like this and turn away decent customers. They should be turning away the yobs and troublemakers, and let the old ladies in regardless of their hats.
- David, London, UK, 09/02/2010 22:40
Report abuse
So why did not the stubborn woman take off her hat ? This is not news.
- Michael, London, UK, 09/02/2010 18:11
Report abuse
you would be welcome in our pub which is a Free House. It's a pity that some company 'Pubs' are run by kiddies from another planet.
- Vince, London, West London, 09/02/2010 15:34
Report abuse
Labours Utopia.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 09/02/2010 15:18
Report abuse
"Disgusting", which planet are these people from?, the thing to do here , is to boycott the Prince Alfred in Bayswater, until this Lady gets a apology, and a couple of free lunches, this could be your Mum or Gran, it seems respect has gone out of the window.
- David Crocket, Bradford, UK, 09/02/2010 13:05
Report abuse
A real pub (if you can find one!) would not treat their customers like these gastro hell holes.
- Keep It Real, London, 09/02/2010 12:36
Report abuse
Sadly, these gastropubs are becoming too commonplace.
When I lived in Balham, one brewery converted a traditional boozer into a gastropub. Absolutely ruined the place. The nice, cosy feel was replaced by sterility and obnoxious, over-bearing staff - who thrust a dinner menu in your face the moment you walked in the door, regardless of whether you wanted to eat or not.
- Jock, Glasgow, 09/02/2010 12:15
Report abuse
I shall not be using gastro pubs if all the concentration is placed on taking your picture,we are obviously paying for this service through the Bill.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey, 09/02/2010 10:39
Report abuse
That's the gastropub for you. They are often owned and managed by self-important people and attract some particularly obnoxious punters to boot.
Avoid them like the plague.
- John, London, 09/02/2010 10:15
Report abuse
