Wetherspoon have responded to claims that The Mile Castle pub in Newcastle was refusing entry to Leicester City football fans on Sunday.
Ahead of Leicester City's game against Newcastle United, thousands of football fans descended on the city centre with many hoping to stop off for a pint before heading to St James' Park to watch the match. But allegations soon emerged that The Mile Castle, on Westgate Road, was refusing entry to football fans wearing "away colours".
Leics Police Events, an affiliated Leicestershire Police Twitter account, posted on social media: "#LCFC fans, the Mile Castle being quite selective of who they allow in for some reason and they aren't allowing "away colours" in..
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"The Waiting Rooms will allow #LCFC fans in (previously the Union Rooms)
"The City Centre is very busy, but there are plenty of places to drink."
Wetherspoon have now responded to the allegations to clarify that The Mile Castle "does not adopt a home fans only policy", however it does discourage large groups of football fans "to maintain the pub's usual atmosphere".
PC Dave Stevens, who manages Leics Police Events for Leicestershire Police, had previously recommended The Mile Castle to fans visiting Newcastle. He had been posting regular match day updates on the account for fans visiting the city.
However, reports soon followed that the pub was refusing entry to away fans, with one Leicester City fan writing "Mile castle just told me no away fans and turned us away." Newcastle fans were quick to reiterate that away fans were always welcome in the city.
One person wrote: "#LCFC are always welcome in the Toon; great fans, brilliant club - even their local constabulary is pretty decent. Have a wonderful day out, sorry in advance about the result."
While another added: "Bad craic this from The Mile Castle pub mind. In Newcastle we pride ourselves on welcoming away fans into the city centre on match days in all of the bars.
"Very poor from them to ban away fans yesterday. Disappointing."
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "The Mile Castle does not adopt a home fans only policy on Newcastle United match days. In order to maintain the pub's usual atmosphere for all customers, it does discourage large groups of football fans and this may explain why some away fans were not allowed entry on Sunday."
