The Red Lion Inn — Restaurant in England

This is a response to a message from the owner/manager of the Red Lion after I was thrown out 90 seconds after walking in. I wanted to respond on fb , but I’ve been blocked on fb and I feel this is important.

Hi Kim, I appreciate you reaching out, it helps bring a little integrity to this sorry mess. However facts are, I was allowed into the bar with no challenge, I respectfully greeted the young fella on the door, and my trousers were made of canvas. I walk to the bar , and actually was told my jacket was the problem. I had a shirt on underneath, which was more than appropriate for smart casual. When I took off my jacket, and handed my bag to the bouncer for inspection, as a conciliatory offering the issue became something else, attitude etc. a very regular occurrence when stopped and searched for example.A whole conversation that never happened,was fabricated in front of friends of mine, respected locals and long standing associates. This frankly was disrespectful and embarrassing, I’ve been around doors, in fact I ran a bar, so I understand the complications involved. I’m a fair person, the older fella with the gingerish beard, was good, would be a good addition to any door, however, somewhere in the chain of communication I was profiled , simple as. In terms of the race card, as you put it ,my mother’s white, my brothers are white, and I’m not a shrinking violet, believe me as a man in my 40’s I’ve seen unapologetic racism, but this was different .Your manager, wanted me gone, your boy on the front door,obviously has no training, and in fact was subtly antagonising me, I’ll put that down to inexperience.

I’ve been coming to Teeside for 10 years, love the place, love the people , and if you can find one other establishment where I’ve drawn on race as an issue, i’ll buy a round for your whole bar. What happened last night upset me in a way I’ve not felt for many years, I’m a fairly resolute person, but last night Kim I felt deeply hurt and saddened, that’s what your staff did, and I feel weak even admitting that, but that’s the truth. Again I do appreciate the contact, and I’ve said what I’ve said online, so that end’s here. An apology from your manager in person, will help, but if not, all good, as I say I’m pretty robust and one bad night on Norton won’t change my life. Have a good weekend and thanks...

I've been to the red lion in Norton once before and it was a nice night but I've just been in there with my partner and brother and his partner and feel very discriminated as we walked in the man working the door said you can't come in with a bodywamer bear in mind I have a polo underneath,jeans,black shoes also but I said okay as there was a sign on the door I thought the rule applies to every customer but I look over at the bar and there's a women there in a full gillet regatta jacket and the same door man hasn't said anything to her. So on my way out I put my bodywamer back on and he said get it of now I said I'm leaving now he said ok I said but there's a women at the bar with a gillet on and he blanked me honestly don't know why people think because they work on the door that they are god because they look more scummy than the so called sports wearing people lol last time I'll be going in that dump but i had to leave a...

We were charged £13.45 for 1 pint of cruzcampo and a single vodka with diet coke 😳. You can only pay with a card so my husband didn't realise it until the next day. We were in on a Saturday night, and my husband has been trying to call the pub to query the price of the drinks, but no one is answering the phone. If this isn't a mistake, then the price of 2 drinks is extortionate. We will keep trying to call the pub to check the prices, but I wouldn't...