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Brad Channer tweeted beer sommelier Melissa Cole with a picture of the sign outside the Chequers Micropub in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
The sign said: “Chequers Micropub. This house is dedicated to those splendid fellows who make drinking a pleasure, who reach contentment before capacity, and who, whatever the drink, can take it, hold it, enjoy it and still remain.
“Gentleman. Please show consideration for our neighbours and refrain from the use of profanities or crude behaviour.”
Cole responded to the tweet, advising the pub to change the sign quickly.
She said: “Ha, ha, ha! I’d express deep surprise the owner of this micropub doesn’t seem to want the money of 51% of the population and they should rethink the sign sharpish.”
However, the Chequers Micropub replied to Cole, outlining how long the sign had been there and there had never been any complaints.
Friendly place
It said: “It’s been there six years and this is the first time the PC brigade has had a pop at it. Of course, women can come to Chequers… as long as it’s to collect their drunk husbands.
“They can even have a drink, as long as it’s bought by a bloke and they drink it outside with the kids.”
However, one pubgoer voiced support for the pub and its sign, highlighting how welcoming the venue is.
William Smith said: “Imagine forming an opinion about a pub based on a sign… lol… for what it’s worth, my wife and I regularly go to Chequers.
“It’s an incredibly friendly place with fantastic beers. Always plenty of men and women in, having a nice time. Pretty sure no one cares about a sign.”
However, Cole responded saying she cared because after more than 20 years working in the trade, she sees the damage “this kind of sexism does”.
Twitter user David Gadie, who said he worked and visited the pub, also defended the Chequers Micropub and posted pictures of female customers inside.
All welcome
He tweeted: “As a member of staff and customer, I’d like to say we have a great number of female customers, many of them actually visit on their own and are all very welcome in Chequers.”
Another employee of the Chequers described how welcoming the pub is, regardless of gender.
Ayjay said: “As an employee of Chequers, I am devastated to be tagged as a sexist due to someone’s reading of a sign.
“I/we are a fully inclusive, non-judgmental purveyor of fine ales and ciders who have a truly varied clientele, if the two investigators of this debate pop in, this will be seen.”
The pub tweeted on 22 September with an image of a temporary sign, that has replaced the original one.
It said: “Following the tweets relating to the signs in causing offence to a large number of people – Melissa Cole, Brad Channer and many others, I, on behalf of Chequers, unreservedly apologise for any offence caused by the sign and my flippant response. A more appropriate one will be ordered.”
