A couple said they were left fuming after a "jobsworth" worker at Wetherspoon told them their dog was not allowed to stay next to them in the outdoor area of the pub - and forced the dog to sit three feet away.
Jonathan and Anne Plautus stopped for a drink at The Stanley Jefferson, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, with their "quiet-as-a-mouse" cockapoo Harley. But while enjoying a drink, 52-year-old Jonathan claimed a "rude" staff member told them to drink up and leave as their three-year-old pooch was not allowed there.
The couple claimed to have asked the "jobsworth" if they could hold onto Harley's lead while he sat outside the Wetherspoons barriers - but the compromise was rejected. Jonathan said he then tied his dog to a lamp post a few feet away from the boozer's cordoned-off area to show the "silly" situation.
The dog tied to a lamp post outside the pub (Kennedy News and Media)
The dog was forced to sit alone, his owners said (Kennedy News and Media)Sad snaps show the "lonely-looking" dog waiting next to the road rather than with Anne, 59, who was sitting just yards away with her pint of cider. Jonathan posted the images to Facebook where a debate erupted over whether "quiet-as-a-mouse" Harley should have been allowed to stay with his owners, reports Teesside Live.
Some pointed to Wetherspoons' online rules that state they "do not permit dogs or other animals except assistance dogs" even in "outside pavement areas". They blasted Jonathan for "dragging his dog" to Wetherspoons and warned him not to go if he does not like the rules, while others agreed with him that he ruling was "harsh".
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The grandad-of-one then hit back and branded one user a "d**k" before explaining he does not believe Wetherspoons should control who sits on the council-managed pavement. He said he felt he and Anne were treated as if they were "bad people", while other customers claimed to be swearing and throwing cigarette ends on the path were not confronted. Wetherspoons have permission from Durham County Council to host a seating area on the pavement and are permitted to apply their standard rules there.
Jonathan, from Crook, County Durham, said: "It annoyed us because during that time people came out to have a smoke and they were swearing and flicking their fag ends on the path. I thought 'how can they do that and we can't sit there and have a quiet pint. We weren't causing any trouble.
The dog was described by his owners as 'quiet-as-a-mouse' (Kennedy News and Media)
Harley with owners Jonathan and Anne (Kennedy News and Media)"I understand some dogs might be aggressive and they might not want them in the pub but I think there should be a bit of leeway outside. Harley's quiet as a mouse. We've trained him well. We only wanted to have a quick drink because it was a nice evening. I know we can't take dogs in Wetherspoons so we sat outside.
"A girl came out and told us we'd have to go. It was rude the way she said it as if we weren't very nice people. I thought she had a bit of an attitude. She told us why and we were surprised because there was hardly anybody else there.
"Anne even asked if we could put the dog on the other side of the fence on a lead but she said no because we'd still have the lead in our hands. She was being a jobsworth. That's when I tied Harley to the lamp post. He looked lonely over there.
"After I took the photo I did bring him back in to sit next to the chairs but that's where I'd have had to leave him. It shows how silly the whole situation is. I think when it's not packed with people there should be a different rule."
The Stanley Jefferson pub in Bishop Auckland, County Durham (Kennedy News/Google)Jonathan says he did not report the incident to Wetherspoons and will return without his cockapoo in the future. His Facebook post said: "Just been evicted from Wetherspoons Bishop Auckland. We were told we would have to go when we finished our drink.
"Apparently the manager said we can't sit with our dog here which is still public byway. If we park our dog on the other side of the barrier it's perfectly ok and we can have another drink."
One commented: "They clearly advertise it on their website, and it's well publicised elsewhere, so I'm not sure why you'd drag your dog to a Wetherspoons. I'm glad they enforced it, it'll make you realise that it applies to you too, so your poor dog isn't subjected to this in future."
Jonathan hit back and said: "He's never been dragged anywhere you D**k. If it's a family-friendly pub why don't they control who they let in because a majority of the clientele in a lot of these pubs aren't family-friendly? Dog's don't stand outside smoking, swearing and spitting phlegm on the public byway."
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Another said: "Seems a bit harsh, the dog is clearly not on Spoons property. However they may not want you setting a trend and of course can ask you to move on if they wish if on their seats." One defended Jonathan and said: "Jobsworth. Won't last long."
Harley pictured with his owner Jonathan (Kennedy News and Media)In response to a user sharing the link to Wetherspoons page, Jonathan said: "If any of you clued up people on Spoons Law read the post you would see that it's not about Spoons property. It's about coming back from a walk and sitting on the pavement having a quiet pint after a dog walk, which is apparently a no-smoking zone. But the establishment doesn't say anything to the smokers who flick there tab ends on the path."
The post earned dozens of comments within hours of being posted following the incident. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Wetherspoons operates a no-dogs policy in all its pubs with the exception of assistance dogs which are welcome.
"The policy is set out on the company's website and was explained in the summer/autumn 2023 edition of Wetherspoon News, our customer magazine. The policy applies both inside our pubs and in any outside area whether owned by the company or , as in this case, the local authority where we operate under a pavement licence.
"So we are consistent, it applies at all times and is not dependent on how busy the pub might be. We appreciate that dog owners may find the policy restrictive but it has been in place for a number of years and we believe it is in the best interest of customers and employees."
Durham County Council confirmed to Teesside Live it has not received any complaints regarding the incident.
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