The Great British pub, a time honoured equalizer where those of every class sip expensive lager and mingle together.
But creeping into public houses across the country are a sweeping set of strict rules sure to stir controversy.
No vegans! No phones! No swearing and definitely no smoking in beer gardens – these are just some of the most outrageous rules being enforced (or soon to be mandated) in public houses across the country.
Only last week, 84-year-old army veteran turned landlord Kevin Moran announced anybody caught using a mobile phone in his Belgravia pub the Nags Head would be booted out after strike one.
So, as the Labour government looks to ban smoking from beer gardens under the pretext of solving lung cancer, MailOnline examines some of the most outrageous and pointless rules paralysing pubs near you.
Sir Keir has been branded ‘No Beer Keir’ by outraged punters after news of the proposed no outdoor smoking policy broke
No smoking!
It seems foolhardy to begin a countdown of Britain’s increasingly authoritarian pubs without referencing the new Labour government’s flagship authoritarian policy: a complete ban on smoking in pub gardens.
The seemingly unenforceable plans would make it illegal to smoke in pub gardens as well as outside football grounds and children’s parks.
Nightclub smoking areas, restaurant terraces and even shisha bars could all have their right to light up axed in shock new plans by Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
Pavements by universities and hospitals would also be outlawed, but the government would charitably allow you to smoke in your home or in the park.
Other locations are said to be grey areas and still under discussion – including beaches and enclosed, popular parks.
The report also mentions vape-free zones, although it is unclear whether the ban could also include e-cigarettes.
Defending the unpopular policy, the Prime Minister argued that ‘over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking’ which is a ‘preventable death’.
‘This is a preventable series of deaths’, continued the PM, ‘and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer.’
The proposed policy was of course blasted by the hospitality industry and the general public.
A survey of MailOnline readers showed three-quarters (75 per cent) did not agree with Labour’s plan for a ban on smoking in outdoor areas.
This compared to a quarter (25 per cent) who did agree with a ban on smoking outside pubs, due to concerns about public health.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, also called on Labour to reconsider its ‘misguided’ plans.
She said: ‘It is deeply concerning and difficult to understand why the Government would bring forward proposals that will be yet another blow to the viability of our nation’s vital community assets.
‘We know from experience that this restriction would have a devastating impact on pubs who are already struggling with soaring energy prices and the cost of doing business.
‘For generations pubs have welcomed people, not turned them away, have helped combat loneliness, and provided a vital place where people meet and make friends.
‘These benefits to the community and local economy must not be taken for granted and we urge the Government to reconsider this misguided restriction.’
No children!
In April, a pub was slammed online for a sign banning children from the establishment.
The Lower Red Lion in St Albans, Hertfordshire came under fire for their ‘child-free’ and ‘dog friendly’ policy after a social media user innocently posted a picture of himself with the sign, captioned ‘found my new local’.
Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted with fury to the post- which was seen by more than 70 million people – with one person comparing the ban on children to ‘pro-extinction [of the human race] culture’.
Another asked ‘why it has become socially acceptable to hate children?’ while others supported the boozer’s stance and called for more child-free and dog friendly venues.
Despite the vitriol the post sparked, locals told MailOnline they support the ‘lovely’ pub’s strategy.
And the boozer, where a traditional fish and chips costs £14.50, appears to be sticking by their policy – which has been illustrated by the sign for a long time.
After the sign attracted a huge amount of hate online on Sunday, it was still outside the pub on Tuesday
The Lower Red Lion in St Albans, Hertfordshire came under fire for their ‘child-free’ and ‘dog friendly’ policy
One resident, who lives only a few doors down from the pub and asked not to be named, said ‘a pub is not a place for children’.
‘I think it is a great sign. I don’t see a problem with it. I can’t think of another pub that is dog friendly and child-free,’ he said.
‘I don’t have a problem with dogs in pubs. If dogs are being a problem, they can easily be brought under control. A pub is not a place for children.’
He added: ‘It is an adult environment. It is because parents can’t find childcare arrangements that they bring their kids to the pub usually.
‘The kids don’t want to be in pubs so they misbehave. And if they do misbehave, it is because they have been poorly brought up anyway, that is why their parents have brought them to a pub.
‘There is absolutely no shortage of pubs in St Albans for people to go to with children. As far as I’m aware this is the only one which is dog friendly and child-free.’
No Prime Ministers (or James May)!
One of the country’s newest landlords, Jeremy Clarkson, can perhaps lay claim to owning Britain’s most popular public house.
Since opening its doors in the summer, Clarkson’s The Farmer’s Dog has routinely been rammed full of Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm fans hoping to try some of his Hawkstone lager and quality all-British produce.
There’s two notable public figures who won’t be booking a table anytime soon however.
In August, Clarkson revealed that Sir Keir ‘is banned’ from the pub saying: ‘He’s actually the first person to be banned. It’s actually on a board in the hall. He hasn’t done much to endear himself to me yet.’
People queuing outside Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub, The Farmer’s Dog, for its opening day
The Grand Tour presenter pictured pouring £6 pints. Clarkson himself admitted the opening had almost been a disaster
Jeremy Clarkson has revealed Prime Minister Keir Starmer is ‘banned’ from his new pub
Perhaps more expectedly, Clarkson also banned long time colleague James May
In a sign hastilly scribbled upon the door after the pub opened, Clarkson scrawled Sir Keir’s name as well as a more expected person: James May.
So, at least there’s that.
No cash!
One of the more depressing things about 21st Century living is the slow creep towards a cashless society in which those who wish to pay in coppers are labelled wronguns or techno-invalids.
In May, furious punters blasted their local pub as ‘disgusting’ after it refused to take cash and accused staff of acting like ‘Big Brother’
The Old Vine in Winchester turned heads (and some customers away) by announcing they will no longer accept cash payments.
The decision was branded ‘not fair’ on the older generation, who said they like the freedom of spending their money without using a card or mobile phone.
Some even called for training for ‘technophobes’ who have been left behind in the ever-developing cashless world – which has ‘caught out’ pub visitors.
Others suggested there were ‘frightening’ possibilities of controlling the population if all businesses refused people the option of ‘invisible’ cash payments compared to ‘traced’ card transactions.
The Old Vine in Winchester has turned heads by announcing they will no longer accept cash payments.
A video shared online showed a heated discussion with an assistant bar manager (pictured) who told a customer she could not be served if she could only pay with cash
The backlash came after one customer tried to order drinks at the 18th century inn – which also offers guests the option to dine in or stay in one of six bedrooms – but only had a £20 note to pay with.
She posted a video on X, showing a heated discussion with an assistant bar manager who told her she could not be served if she could only pay with cash.
No vegans or saboteurs!
Boxing Day. A time where people of every persuasion gather in public houses to share in the congenial aspects of the festive season – except in one Sussex pub that is!
In 2018, the Dorset Inn in Lewes, East Sussex sparked outrage after a sign was placed on the door banning vegans and saboteurs for the day due to the Christmas hunt.
Amazingly, the policy had been implemented without the knowledge of Harveys, the brewery who owned the pub.
In 2018, the Dorset Inn in Lewes, East Sussex sparked outrage after a sign was placed on the door banning vegans and saboteurs
They later said they were ‘appalled’ by the ‘inappropriate sign’ and that the employee responsible for erecting it had been suspended.
A spokesman for the brewery said at the time: ‘Following the comments generated by [the] inaccurate, insensitive and inappropriate poster, the company would like to issue a formal apology for any confusion, offence or upset it may have caused.
‘Harvey’s do not concur with the sentiment of this sign in any way, and are appalled at the inconsiderate actions of the individual in question… [an] employee has been suspended pending an ongoing investigation.
‘Harvey’s are fully committed to the inclusivity of all guests. We… would like to reassure current and future patrons that all are welcome in our establishments. This will not happen again.’
No workwear!
In July this year, a Birkenhead pub thumb the flames of public anger by announcing a blanket ban on certain types of clothing after 6pm.
The offending items included workwear, shorts, caps and tracksuit bottoms.
Announcing their blanket ban on certain types of clothing on Facebook, the Lottie Dod said: ‘Here at The Lottie Dod we implement a dress code after 6pm every day.
‘We have advertised this on numerous occasions, but some people still insist on trying to come in.
‘Our dress code is no tracksuits, sports shorts, work wear or caps after 6pm every day! Thank you for the continued support everyone. X’
The pub’s policy went down like a pint of cold sick with some locals who accused them of ‘demonising’ the demographic.
One punter replied to the pub: ‘I just feel that demonising a demographic is a little outdated.
‘I assume this means tradies aren’t allowed in in their workwear (after 6, can stay prior to 6), but estate agents, opticians, bank workers, solicitors etc will be fine (I assume) due to the nature of their workwear?
‘I somewhat understand what you’re trying to achieve. But I think the whole model is a sports bar, and the nature of that wherever you are in the world, is a relaxed attitude towards dress code.’
No banter!
Soon pub bosses may have to become ‘banter cops’ to stop themselves from being sued by staff who are offended by customers under Labour’s new reforms.
Business leaders have warned that the incoming Employment Rights Bill will make employers liable for their staff being offended by the public.
Bosses will legally have to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent harassment by third parties relating to protected characteristics, including sex, gender reassignment or age.
But Free Speech campaigners believe this will force pub staff into the role of ‘banter cops’ who have to ban customers for telling inappropriate jokes when they harass those who are working there.
They believe the Bill will also lead to universities giving in to criticism over controversial guest speakers.
If that’s a risque joke they’re sharing they’ll soon regret it!
Under Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s planned overhaul of workers’ rights, Labour wants to upgrade the duty on employers to ‘all reasonable steps’
Business leaders have warned that the incoming Employment Rights Bill will make employers liable for their staff being offended by the public
The Worker Protection Act is due to take effect on 26 October and will place a duty on firms to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees.
Under Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s planned overhaul of workers’ rights, Labour wants to upgrade the duty on employers to ‘all reasonable steps’.
This was how the legislation was initially drafted before being watered down by peers in the House of Lords as it passed through Parliament.
Prior to the general election, Labour vowed to return the duty to its tougher wording as part of their ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ to be implemented with 100 days of winning power.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, told The Telegraph ‘there are jokes and people are boisterous’ in pubs because it is a ‘social environment’.
She said while bosses want to protect their staff, they don’t want to be ‘policing’ customers’ behaviour.
The changes go further than the original Equality Act of 2010, which made employers liable for third-party harassment after three incidents. This was removed entirely in 2013.
No mobile phones and no swearing!
This week, the landlord of a historic pub has completely banned phones and announced any punters flouting the rules will be told to leave.
Army veteran Kevin Moran, 84, says he takes no nonsense when it comes to people chatting on their mobiles at the independent Nag’s Head pub in Belgravia.
Mr Moran is so against modern technology he says doesn’t even have a mobile phone, saying his landline is good enough.
His pub now operates a one strike rule when it comes to people flouting the ban at pub as the policy is clearly signposted with boards outside the boozer clearly stating ‘NO mobile phones.
Staff at the quintessentially British pub believe punters should chat to each other rather than having their head in a device.
Army veteran Kevin Moran, 84, says he takes no nonsense when it comes to people chatting on their mobiles at the independent Nag’s Head pub in Belgravia
His pub now operates a one strike rule when it comes to people flouting the ban at pub as the policy is clearly signposted with boards outside the boozer
Staff at the quintessentially British pub believe punters should chat to each other rather than having their head in a device.
The policy is the same as one that has long been in place at Samuel Smith pubs – although others differ!
For decades, Samuel Smith pubs have been run with an iron fist by reclusive beer baron Humphrey Smith.
He is famous for his notorious rules banning phones, laptops, dogs, children, foul language and even motorcyclists were reportedly dismissed as ‘undesirable’ at one pub.
The beer baron is also known for turning up unannounced to check his landlords are following his exacting standards.
Mr Smith is renowned for turning up at his pubs unannounced to check managers are maintaining his standards – and closing them if they fail to comply.
He made headlines in 2019 after overhearing a drinker at his Fox & Goose pub in Droitwich Spa, Worcs, telling his wife a joke that contained a swear word.
At the Cow and Calf in Sheffield, South Yorks, Smith was said to be unimpressed when his favourite dessert was unavailable.
Pictured: Humphrey Smith, the reclusive owner of the Samuel Smith’s brewery
Pictured: The Princess Louise pub on High Holborn in Central London – a Samuel Smith’s pub
Pictured: A coaster in one of the Sam Smith pub’s which encourages people to talk – and bans devices
Pictured: Punters enjoy a drink in the Princess Louise pub, run by the Samuel Smith brewery in Holborn, central London
Pictured: Samuel Smith has become notorious for its strict rules and banned digital devices in all of its 200 pubs, in a bid to keep the art of conversation alive
In Tadcaster, as MailOnline last week revealed, the brewery owns dozens of shops, houses and other properties, many of which now stand empty or derelict.
There has been rising anger from locals accusing Mr Smith of overseeing the town’s decay.
A brewery expert told MailOnline that he suspects Mr Smith will continue to be involved in the brewery, despite standing down as chairman.
They said: ‘I think Hump will keep a close eye on things – it’s not in his nature to take a back seat.
‘Unless of course there’s a family revolt and they put him in an old people’s home.
‘In short, I don’t expect much or any change.’
