Dress code change at West Midlands pub - sparking some backlash

The Station pub in Sutton Coldfield has revised its dress code, prohibiting sportswear and hats on weekends, sparking customer backlash ahead of the World Cup.

The Station located in Sutton Coldfield has said in a Facebook post that it would follow a dress code of smart/casual.

A representative of the pub posted on Facebook yesterday (Friday, May 22): “Hi guys, as a few of you are already aware we've had a few changes to how we operate recently and we just wanted to communicate them out for everyone.

“ Our dress code has updated. Smart/ casual.

“No entry if in sportswear, hats or hoodies. Our final entry to the venue will be 11pm.

“Our venue will close at 1am. These changes all start this weekend and apply to Fridays and Saturdays after 9pm. See you this weekend!”

The move prompted backlash from its customers.

With one user, Alex Field, saying it was a “bad move” ahead of the World Cup, they wrote: “Bad move. When the changes were applied to allow football tops your business boomed (before a few years ago nobody came on match days for Villa etc)You’ve got a World Cup around the corner and a champions league Villa season upcoming and you’re banning sportswear on Saturdays… baffling!!”

Another, Facebook user agreed that it was odd to implement ahead of the World Cup in June.

Julie Anne Adams wrote: “So are you letting people who’ve booked to watch the World Cup match on the Friday know that they won’t get in if they’re wearing football shirts?”