'I wore inappropriate top to Spoons after woman was barred to see what'd happen'

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Hoodies, hats and underboob-baring garments are considered to be a faux pas in fancy bars and restaurants.

But you wouldn't typically expect to be called out for your style at Wetherspoons.

Provided you're fully clothed, you can rock up to the popular pub chain in trackies, trainers or even fancy dress.

READ MORE: 'Britain's most tattooed mum' tries to get served in Wetherspoons after pub ban

So it came as a surprise when Mollie Wood was "kicked out" of a Wetherspoons for her outfit choice back in 2021.

The punter alleged she was told her cleavage-baring top was "inappropriate" – and we wanted to see if the same rules still applied.

Daily Star reporter Layla Nicholson realised she had the same skirt and a very similar top to Mollie.

So, two years on – she tested out whether the 'banned' outfit will still see you turned away from a Wetherspoons. Here's how she got on…

Although I'm not heading to the Reading pub where the infamous outfit ordeal went down, I wanted to see if the clobber was universally a no-no among the budget boozer.

As I made my way to the The Crown Hotel in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, I began to feel somewhat nervous that I'm wearing a rather controversial outfit.

Although I rarely have any issue with rocking clothes on the more revealing side, wearing an outfit that someone else felt they were 'sexualised' in did make me feel a bit wary and exposed.

But, there's no time to head back now.

The midi-length side-split floral skirt from Primark did do a good job at airing out half of my thigh, while the chest-baring black halter neck crop top instilled some fear into me.

I didn't feel particularly provocative – more so untrendy by wearing an outfit I used to wear to death two years ago.

But will it lead to me getting kicked out of Spoons?

Unsurprisingly, there was no bouncer on the door at 4:30pm on a Monday.

So I set my sights on walking to the bar ahead.

I entered through the side door and headed to the bar at the back of the pub but had to wade through some table and stalls occupied by punters.

With my boobs just about secure in the black cut-out crop top and one of my legs out of the floral skirt, I plucked up the courage to speak to bar staff to check-in to my hotel stay there (yes, Wetherspoons have hotels).

Despite being ogled by boozy blokes – something to be expected as a woman come rain or shine – the staff did not bat an eyelid.

While one female staff member helped me check-in to my room, the other employees continued with their work behind the bar.

I then walked through the pub and up to my room – and no-one said anything about my choice of attire.

So far, it's been a success and I haven't been 'kicked' out for my near-enough boob baring top, albeit I'm not as well-endowed in the chest department.

Back downstairs, I go to see if I can get served in the outfit.

I sat at a table and ordered a drink, and not long after, a female staff member smiled as she gave me my blood orange gin.

Yet again, the outfit remains unmentioned.

But sitting inside while the sun shone was a waste – particularly as I've got a top on perfect for a good shoulder tanning session.

I perched on one of the outside tables, slurped on my tipple to my heart's content while my torso and shoulders bathed in the sun.

And not a word was said.

It was time to order some food, and when delivered my grub by a male member of staff, you guessed it – my outfit remained unspoken of.

So after an hour and a half of being at Wetherspoons, no staff member – female or male – said anything about my skin-baring attire.

Although I personally didn't have any issues with my outfit, this wasn't the same case for Mollie Wood who was dress coded by The Back of Beyond management due to "a matter of individual judgement."

Mollie – who was 20 at the time – claims that a male manager branded her top “inappropriate” as her cleavage was "equal to a man being shirtless."

Despite being let into the The Back of Beyond pub in Reading, Berkshire, by a female bouncer, Mollie and her friend didn't have much luck when getting served as she claims a 30-something employee refused to serve her.

Her friend Amy Lee, 20, also says she was denied drinks due to her "unsuitable" clothing.

Mollie said she felt humiliated, she fumed: “We got halfway walking through the pub when a male manager shouted for us to stop.

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"He said, 'You can't come in here, you're dressed really inappropriately and it isn't suitable.

"'You can't be wearing a top like that.'

"I told him how sexist it was to compare me to a topless man. I was wearing a top.

"I wasn't topless."

At the time in June 2021, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Two female customers visited the Back of Beyond pub in Reading on Sunday evening at approximately 7.40pm.

“Shortly after entering, the customers were politely asked to leave the pub as, on consideration by the pub’s management team, their dress was not, in this particular case, in accordance with the company’s guidance to pubs on appropriate customer dress.

“What may be considered appropriate dress is invariably a matter of individual judgement and whilst no offence was intended to the two customers by the request to leave the pub, we support the approach of the pub’s management team in this instance."

Wetherspoons

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