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Tiny Devon Pub Defends Decision To Snub Tourists With 'Locals Only' Policy

Tiny Devon Pub Defends Decision To Snub Tourists With 'Locals Only' Policy

The King of Prussia Inn has put a sign outside explaining that only local customers are welcome

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

A tiny pub in a picturesque town has placed a rather unwelcoming sign outside, detailing its 'locals only' policy.

The King of Prussia Inn - also known as the 'Proosh' to its regulars - is in the picturesque riverside town of Kingsbridge in Devon.

King of Prussia Inn.
Google Maps

A chalkboard A-frame left out on the street outside tells holidaymakers flooding to the area that only people who live in the area are welcome inside. Charming.

The sign reads 'LOCALS ONLY' and adds in smaller writing: "Due to restrictions by Boris!! He has made a small pub smaller."

And just in case any visitors are upset at not being allowed into the Grade II listed building, the sign explains: "Due to the small capacity we can only accommodate our locals."

I suppose that context makes it a little bit more understandable...?

DevonLive/BPM

Landlady Sara Roberton explained that she is now starting to get fed up with people taking pictures of the sign, displayed prominently on King of Prussia corner at the entrance to the town.

Sara, who runs the pub with her partner Tim Newman (a born and bred Kingswear native, of course), explained that in the first lockdown they tried to politely explain to visitors that they didn't have room. But she said nobody would listen.

So now the pub has displayed the 'locals only' sign instead.

It has already attracted national media attention after a GP from Nottingham thought the sign was not very friendly to holidaymakers and posted a picture of it on Twitter.

But Sara says he took his picture on a rainy day, and the white chalk explanation of the pub's not-very-spacious size had been washed off.

They must be local to be getting within 6 foot of the building.
DevonLive/BPM

Sara said: "Unfortunately it went mad on Twitter after a doctor from Nottingham took a picture and posted it. All my locals had a go at him and he took the picture down and that was that.

"I get fed up of people taking pictures of the sign all the time. We tried it the polite way in the first lockdown. We had a polite notice board but nobody read it."

Sara added: "We are such a small pub. I'm fine with my regulars. They are here all year round.

"I don't think my regulars should have to go without a seat because of visitors. I'm not opposed to them sitting outside. We've had a few in who asked if they can take a drink outside and we're fine with that. It's not because we're unfriendly, we just don't have the space.

"It's not my fault the government made all these rules. Now it's all table service and everyone has to remain at their table. We used to have five tables but we've taken the pool table out to make room for two more."

Google Maps

She added: "I don't survive on the holidaymakers who come in and buy one drink - it's our regulars who come in all-year round who are important to us. I know other businesses in the town need the holidaymakers but we are not a tourist business."

Featured Image Credit: DevonLive/BPM

Topics: Community, UK