Featured Image Credit: Liverpool Echo
Topics: Food And Drink, UK News
Daisy Phillipson
While getting turned away at the pub for being too young is nothing new, one man experienced the exact opposite when he was refused entry for being 'too old'.
Anthony Severs had been out for a few bevvies on 25 July when he decided to swing by Irish bar McCooley's in Liverpool at around 10pm to shelter from the rain - and grab a pint while he was at it.
However, the 76-year-old grandad was left 'shell shocked' when the bouncer told him he was 'too old' to come in.
Although he's since complained, he claims he's yet to receive an apology from the pub, and he feels 'discriminated' against for his age.
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Speaking about the unusual ordeal, the retired ship builder said: "I’d just come out of The Grapes - it was raining and I’d been soaked.
"I don’t live far from town and without the buses (due to the ongoing Arriva strike), I was walking home.
"But because it was raining, I thought I'd go into McCooley's just to dry off and have a drink.
"I got up the stairs to go in, but a bouncer said I couldn’t come in. I asked why and she said I was too old.
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"I said ‘that’s discrimination’. She then said nothing. I just walked away, I was shell-shocked."
Anthony, who has a daughter and multiple grandchildren, added: "How would it make you feel? It was only when I walked away that it hit me. I thought ‘hang on - too old?’.
"I was shocked, I’ve been drinking around town for 60-odd years and nothing like this has ever happened before. People might laugh - being told you're too old - [but] it's not on."
The granddad, who said he drinks on Mathew Street as he tends to bump into people he knows, was so baffled by the incident that he decided to speak to his daughter about it.
She advised him to get in touch with McCooley's in order to complain. But after doing so, Anthony claims he was then told to contact the firm the bar employs to provide security staff.
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He continued: "When I got my head together, I went down to McCooley’s and they said it wasn’t down to them, it was down to the security firm.
"I said that I wanted a personal apology, because she kept me out personally."
McCooley’s has since responded to the incident, telling LADbible in a statement: "As a bar and restaurant venue which specialises in live music and sporting events, we pride ourselves on creating a fun, vibrant and all-inclusive environment at McCooley’s, and so we are really saddened to hear that Mr Severs has been left feeling upset, and thank him for bringing this situation to our attention.
"Unfortunately Mr Severs wasn't allowed in after leaving the Grapes but his age wasn't a factor and there may be a bit of miscommunication on the night.
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"Most of our customers, especially midweek are indeed older. He's certainly allowed back at any time.
"The external security person who he wanted the personal apology from no longer works for the security company we employ, but he has received an apology from the head of the security company responsible for employing her - in person.
"We are informed that this took place at their offices last week in the city centre."
The statement added: "If Mr Severs would like to come back we'll certainly make sure he's looked after.
"He had previously refused to give his details to the security company when he met them so we couldn't contact him ourselves, as a venue.
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"The Liverpool Echo article was the first time any of the managers at McCooley's knew of the initial complaint."