Dogs will be banned from entering Wetherspoons pubs across the country from today, the company has confirmed.
The pub chain said “after much consultation” it would now be strictly enforcing a ban that has been in place since the company was founded in 1979.
“Although Wetherspoons has adopted a no-dogs policy throughout its 40-year history, it has allowed ‘a few exceptions’ in recent years,” Sky News reports.
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The company says the animals are no longer welcome in pubs and beer gardens because they are “unpredictable” and frighten young children.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs will still be allowed in the chain’s pubs, but owners are advised to bring along documentation to explain the animal’s purpose, Metro reports.
“Even well-behaved dogs can be unpredictable – every dog owner thinks their dog is perfect,” said Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon.
He also said that some young children were frightened of the animals, and owners often failed to clean up after their pets.
“We welcome a lot of children and families and younger children in particular can be unpredictable around dogs and many are scared of dogs,” Gershon added.
“We serve a lot of food. Unfortunately, not all owners are diligent over cleaning up dog mess.”
