A pub once frequented by Charles Dickens has banned racegoers from entering their boozer - as staff believe they 'put off regulars'. The Golden Ball has been a 'race goers free zone this week' as the Dante festival kicked off at nearby York Racecourse on Wednesday.
The three-day festival, which ends today, saw thousands of punters flock to the city for a weekend of top-quality racing. But while bars in the city centre often see their coffers swelled by thirsty racefans, the boozer's staff said their regulars stop visiting the pub on race days.
In a post on social media announcing the trial, they said: "Golden Ball regulars rejoice - the pub will be a race goers free zone this week. We feel the races often detracts our lovely regulars from visiting the pub on race days. So we wanted to give you a safe haven. Let us know your thoughts on this."
