A woman in a Union Jack dress was turned away from a Wetherspoon pub as the pub chain banned flags amid an anti-illegal immigration protest in a Nottinghamshire town
Katy Hallam and Louis Corbett
21:06, 25 Jul 2025
(Image: Nottinghamshire Live / Louis Corbett )
A woman donning a Union Jack dress was barred from a Wetherspoon pub during an anti-illegal immigration demonstration in a Nottinghamshire town.
Tanya Ostolski walked through the crowd of protesters, declaring that she had been denied service at her local boozer, The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
A Wetherspoon spokesman has confirmed the pub’s manager requested customers not to enter with flags or any placards as they felt it was “important not to increase tensions”.
Read more Mum-of-six’s four heartbreaking last words after ‘husband poisoned her protein shake’, court hears
The decision sparked fury amongst some of the Union Jack-wearing demonstrators who clashed with door staff as they were turned away from their local on Friday night, July 25.
Following approximately two hours of demonstrations around the town centre from roughly 4.30pm, the incident saw crowds congregate back where they started, just 50 metres from the pub. The majority of people had left the area near the establishment by about 7pm.
Tanya, 54, who resides in the town, claims she was initially turned away for carrying a St George’s cross flag, but was still refused entry after storing it in her bag.
She said: “I go in there all the time and they refused entry. They didn’t let me in with my flag (separate from the dress), the flag is the English flag, so why shouldn’t I be allowed to have an English flag?”, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
“It’s our flag, it’s our nation’s flag. I wasn’t being aggressive or anything I didn’t get lairy or anything. I put the flag back in my bag, and they said I can’t come in because of my dress.
“They kept refusing me. I’m probably going to get barred now. They just said Tanya, you’re not coming in. I feel absolutely disgusted, why should I be refused entry for wearing a dress or a flag?”.
JD Wetherspoon’s “no-flags” policy is widely recognised.
The chain faced criticism during the 2018 World Cup when its numerous establishments were told not to display England flags showing the St George’s Cross, or any other nation’s colours, throughout the tournament.
Rather than individual flags, the pubs featured bunting representing all 32 competing countries.
However, during the men’s Euro 2024 championship, the well-known pub chain lifted its prohibition on England flags being displayed at its venues for this summer’s European tournament.
Last June, Wetherspoon confirmed its establishments would be permitted to show flags if they chose to mark the sporting occasion.
Addressing today’s incident in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon commented: “Pub managers have a duty under the licensing laws, and as a matter of common sense, to judge every situation on its particular circumstances.
“In this case, the pub manager felt that it was important not to increase tensions. Therefore, on this occasion the manager asked customers not to enter with flags or any placards.”
The incident occurred during an anti-immigration demonstration in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Furious protesters assembled in the town following social media posts by MP Lee Anderson regarding a local rape case. The MP for Reform UK alleged that a man charged with rape in Sutton in Ashfield, within his constituency, is an asylum seeker.
However, Nottinghamshire Live has been unable to confirm this claim.
Posts on Mr Anderson’s X and Facebook pages incited protesters to assemble in the town centre. A counter-protest also occurred, but the anti-illegal immigration protesters were more numerous.
The mood in the town was extremely tense as individuals chanted “stop the boats” and held Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responsible for high levels of migration.
