A woman from Lincolnshire has spoken out after an incident in which she was told to “cover up” while visiting a Wetherspoon pub wearing gym attire. The episode has ignited debate about dress codes and expectations in pub environments, particularly relating to sportswear and what is deemed appropriate in public spaces.
Georgia Toomey, 23, said she had just finished a session at the gym and decided to meet her boyfriend for a casual get-together at The Tollemache Inn, located in Grantham. Dressed in a Gymshark sports bra and shorts, she entered the well-known chain pub not expecting any controversy. However, her outfit quickly attracted the attention of a female staff member.
According to Ms Toomey, the staff member scrutinised her and instructed her to zip up her top. The reason given was that the establishment is a “family-friendly pub,” and revealing sportswear was considered inappropriate under the venue’s dress policy. Ms Toomey expressed her dismay, telling reporters: “I wear gym clothes to work out, they’re designed for comfort and practicality. I didn’t expect to be told off for wearing them somewhere as relaxed as Wetherspoon.”
She continued to highlight her frustration, noting that attitudes to women’s gym wear are often unjustly sexualised. “It isn’t a lacey bra or nightwear—it’s just sportswear. If men can walk around shirtless in pubs without issue, why can’t women wear what they find comfortable after exercise?” Her comments touch on broader concerns about double standards in societal expectations around appropriate dress.
After the initial exchange, Ms Toomey and her boyfriend decided to sit outside in the beer garden, opting to order via the app and keep to themselves. Yet the experience did not become any more comfortable, with the staff member, thought to be in her forties or fifties, reportedly returning multiple times to check whether Ms Toomey was “appropriately covered.” This repeated attention ultimately made the couple feel unwelcome, and they chose to leave the pub.
Ms Toomey later filed a complaint with Wetherspoon management, contesting the pub’s handling of the situation. In response, she said she received an email claiming she had been refused service and asked to leave, which she refutes. “At no point did anyone explicitly refuse to serve us or ask us to leave,” Ms Toomey insisted. “It was just awkward checking and staring that made us uncomfortable.”
The incident has resonated with others online. Ms Toomey shared her account on social media, where she received messages of support. Notably, some men claimed to have visited the same pub shirtless in the past without issue, amplifying the discussion around potential inconsistencies and gender bias in dress code enforcement.
A spokesperson for Wetherspoon acknowledged that the chain has a general policy asking patrons to remain “fully clothed” during their visit and strives to maintain family-friendly standards. “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,” the spokesperson clarified.
Dress codes in pubs have long been a contentious topic, often relying on individual managers’ discretion. Critics argue that inconsistent enforcement can give rise to confusion or feelings of unfair treatment among customers, as in Ms Toomey’s case. The debate has also sparked conversation about what constitutes “offensive” attire and who gets to decide—a question especially pertinent as leisure and activewear become increasingly commonplace in everyday life.
Ultimately, Ms Toomey says she never expected a quiet drink in her local Wetherspoon would prompt such a confrontation, and hopes her experience prompts a wider conversation about fairness and respect for personal choice. “No one should feel embarrassed or singled out for wearing comfortable clothes, especially when there are no clear guidelines displayed,” she concluded. The pub chain, meanwhile, maintains that Ms Toomey is welcome back any time.