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Pub Offends Customers With 'Body Shaming' Sign

Pub Offends Customers With 'Body Shaming' Sign

It was meant as a joke...

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

We love a good pub sign, some are quite clever. Landlords thinking themselves as the failed comedians of the world.

Half the time we walk past, have a little smirk and carry on with our business. But sometimes they make us laugh, or stand in shock, before encouraging us to go inside and buy a pint or three.


One pub that has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons over its sign is The Red Lion in Sittingbourne, Kent.

The landlord has been accused of body shaming.

The 'cheeky boozer' also told potential customers 'salad served here' in a not-so-subtle message to some drinkers.

The traditionally-named pub planted an A-board outside with soaring temperatures forecast over the bank holiday.

The sign read: "When it's hot please dress for the body you have, not the body you want! Thanks x Salad served here."

Credit: Facebook/Charlotte Waters

Online, people were quick to respond with angered comments. One wrote: "Nice bit of body shaming" while another wrote "disgusting".

33-year-old mum-of-two, Jayne Whittingham, a resident of the Kent town, said she was 'appalled' by the board which sent out 'all the wrong messages'.

She said: "We're constantly trying to impress on people, especially children, that they shouldn't get hung up about their body image.

"Of course it's good to encourage overweight people to shed a few pounds, but kids walking past this sign in the street will think 'I wonder if everyone is looking at me and what I look like'."

Credit: PA

However landlord, Malcolm Winskill, said that people have just got 'a bit precious' about his sign and that it was only meant as a joke.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: "it was just supposed to be tongue in cheek, to make people happy and brighten up their day.

"We have done signs like this in the past. I can't see why anyone has taken offence - I am 20 stone myself."

Some people have jumped to the landlord's defence, however.

On the other hand, LADbible reported on one pub sign that is definitely receiving positive feedback.

The staff at Beer Cellar in Exeter made this sign, along with the message: "If dudes could stop trying to kiss our female bartender's hands that would be great."

The sign was created to remind the male clientele, in a humorous way, that their slobbering, drunken advances on the female staff members would not be tolerated.

Featured Image Credit: Google Maps

Topics: Pubs