Georgia Toomey says she was ‘looked up and down’ and told to zip up her top to conceal her gym wear because it was ‘a family friendly pub’
Georgia Toomey, 23, was meeting her boyfriend at a Weatherspoons (Image: SWNS)
A young woman was left fuming after being told to cover up at her local Wetherspoons pub – because she was wearing a sports bra. Georgia Toomey decided to meet her boyfriend at The Tollemache Inn in Grantham, Lincolnshire, after finishing a workout at the gym.
However, the 23-year-old claims she was “looked up and down” by a female staff member and instructed to zip up her top to hide her gym attire because it was “a family friendly pub.” The cleaner explained that she and her boyfriend had planned to order from the app in the beer garden – but decided to leave after the same worker kept coming outside to observe them.
Georgia, from Grantham, said: “We walked in and I was wearing a gym set, I thought, ‘we’re only going to Spoons, I don’t have to change’.
“But this woman looked me up and down and said I had to zip my top up. She said it was a family-friendly pub.
“I think it’s ridiculous. It’s only sports wear and you shouldn’t feel like you can’t wear it.
Georgia had just been to the gym and was wearing a blue gym set (Image: SWNS)
“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 was 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.
“I would get it if it was a lacey bra or something, but it’s not. She looked me up and down like a piece of dirt. It makes me feel like I should be covering up, but I shouldn’t be.
“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. It’s other people’s problem if they are getting affected by a bit of cleavage.”
Georgia Toomey outside Tollemache Inn, Wetherspoons (Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Following being instructed to cover herself, Georgia claims she and her partner headed to the beer garden, where no other patrons were seated.
However, they decided to depart the establishment after becoming irritated when the staff member repeatedly emerged to “check she was covered up.”
Georgia lodged a complaint with the pub but alleges they ‘fibbed’ by informing her she had been ‘refused service and asked to leave’, which she insists never occurred.
Georgia, who had been sporting Gymshark shorts and sports bra, costing £38 each, continued: “We were sat outside and were going to order on the app, but the woman from the bar, who was about 40 or 50, kept coming outside and looking.
Georgia lodged a compliant with the pub after she was spoken to about her outfit (Image: SWNS / Georgia Toomey)
“It made me feel really embarrassed and insecure. We didn’t feel comfortable, so we left. But the woman wrote and said she threw us out and wasn’t going to serve us, which never happened.
“When I looked online it said you’re allowed sports wear.”
Georgia posted on social media to detail her ordeal and revealed a bloke responded claiming he and his mates had visited the same boozer topless without any problems previously.
In an email response to her complaint, the pub chain stated: “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.”
However, in a statement, the pub retracted its previous stance, confirming that Georgia had not been asked to leave and she was ‘very welcome to return’.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon stated: “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.”
