Manager barred women from Sheffield Wetherspoons after breaking no-swearing policy

Customers at a Wetherspoon pub in Sheffield who were barred following a row over the pub’s no-swearing policy have demanded an apology.
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Hazel Poole and Maxine Rhodes were ejected from the Bankers Draft in Sheffield city centre and told not to come back after an argument broke out with staff over Ms Rhodes’ language.

The pair claim they were sitting minding their own business when a male acquaintance came up behind Ms Rhodes and poked her in the sides as a joke, causing her to blurt out ‘f***s sake'.

The Bankers Draft pub on Market Place in Sheffield city centreThe Bankers Draft pub on Market Place in Sheffield city centre
The Bankers Draft pub on Market Place in Sheffield city centre
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The duty manager then approached and told them to mind their language as there were children around, at which point a row erupted which ended with all three of them being barred.

Ms Poole and Ms Rhodes claim the duty manager was unnecessarily rude and overreacted when they questioned the policy on swearing, explaining that she had done so only out of shock and there had been no children within earshot.

But Wetherspoon says they were ‘asked politely’ to refrain from using bad language but continued to break the no-swearing policy and the man ended up throwing a glass at a member of staff, something Ms Poole and Ms Rhodes strenuously deny.

The incident happened on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12, but the pair approached The Star after growing frustrated with the response from Wetherspoon’s head office to their complaints.

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Ms Poole, who is 35 and lives in Hackenthorpe, said: “I’ve never been barred from a pub before and I want an apology for the way we were treated that day.

“The manager was so rude and argumentative, and we were made to look like animals. It was embarrassing.

"I could understand if we were effing and blinding at someone but it was part of the conversation and not aimed at anyone directly.

"We asked where the no-swearing policy was displayed on the wall and there wasn’t one to be seen.

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"I’m just absolutely appalled at how we were treated and the way we were barred over nothing.

"I can guarantee that there were no glasses thrown or anything smashed.”

Ms Rhodes, a 53-year-old training manager from Manor Park, said: “I explained that I wasn’t swearing at anybody, just in surprise, and we pointed out that there were no children around.

"We weren’t being rowdy or aggressive, and I found the manager’s behaviour really overbearing. “

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A Wetherspoon spokesman said: “The pub takes a proactive approach to managing behaviour that may compromise the pub atmosphere for other customers.

“On this occasion the ladies were asked politely by the duty manager to refrain from using bad language. They continued to break the pub’s no swearing policy, resulting in management refusing service.

“The gentleman that was with them became aggressive and threw a glass at one of the management team.

“Wetherspoon has a zero tolerance to violence towards its staff and this has led to the three people involved being barred.

“All barrings are reviewed by the pub management and are subject to change if customers are willing to follow house rules."

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