A naturist pair on their way across the country for a break in the South West raised eyebrows when they stopped off at a pub for dinner - completely naked. Friends Neil Cox and Danielle Quiggan sat in the corner of the pub and quietly had their meal, but some customers have said they walked out after spotting the naked diners.
Margaret Lishmund was in the Railway Inn in Somerset when the couple arrived - and decided to find somewhere else for dinner, reports SomersetLive. Writing on Tripadvisor she said: "Whilst ordering drinks a couple walked up to the bar naked, which was a shock for all in the pub.
“We expected the barman to refuse to serve them. There were several families with children in the pub, including ourselves, therefore it was not appropriate for them to be served.
“We decided to leave the pub and find somewhere else for dinner in town. Unfortunately another family were not able to as they had already ordered food. If you advertise as a family pub you should maintain these values.
"Locals who frequent the pub apologised to us, but the staff seemed to think this was okay. Very disappointing.”
Danielle and Neil on one of their trips away (Image: Neil Cox)
Customer Sarah L, who had taken her parents to the pub on Friday night, gave the venue a one star rating and wrote: “Appalling. If you want to go to a family pub with average food and staff serving a naked man accompanied by a naked woman then this is for you.
"Took parents. Outraged.”
Reviewer Euroexp123 wrote: “We found food and staff pleasant. We went for the second time last night, were shocked to see naked couple arrive and be served."
Neil, 34, said he contacted the pub ahead of their visit to inform staff they were naturists. Staff at the pub say they researched the rules on naturism and took the booking.
He said: "During our break away we were naked most of the time. Where I live there are shops, grocery stores and pubs where I go in regularly that accept I am a naturist.
"We don't think the reaction on TripAdvisor was reflective of what actually happened in the pub in Burnham-on-Sea. It was a new place and people were not expecting it and there was an element of surprise when we first walked in.
"We sat in the corner of the pub and had our meal. People quickly went back to their drinks and got on with their day.
"After all two naked people sitting in a corner of a pub having a beer and burger quickly becomes boring. Several people came over to us whilst we were there to have a chat and ask questions or request a photo. We had checked with the pub first and got their permission to visit."
Neil said: "We also stopped off in Bristol on Thursday night and went to a pub there and received no reaction to us being naked at all.
He added: "I've made over 500 visits to shops, bars and other businesses whilst naked and as far as I'm aware not one of those visits has ever resulted in a single negative review. Danielle and I find it deeply saddening that in 2023 an individual has attacked a small business that is trying to demonstrate acceptance and tolerance."
Being naked in public is not an offence. The Crown Prosecution Service says: “In the absence of any sexual context and in relation to nudity where the person has no intention to cause alarm or distress it will normally be appropriate to take no action unless members of the public were actually caused harassment, alarm or distress.”
A spokesperson for the Railway Inn said: “We have received both negative and positive comments which we have taken on board, however naturism is legal within the UK and we pride ourselves on inclusivity and welcome everyone's individuality and differences.”
