The video will start in 8 Cancel

Latest Teesside headlines straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A Teesside club refused to serve customers tap water over the bar - despite a law saying they must.

For 15 years Linda Sandbach has been a regular customer at the Billingham Constitutional Club, on Wolviston Road, Billingham.

But Linda says she was left feeling “belittled” when her request for a glass of tap water was refused by order of the management.

The 63-year-old, who lives in Billingham, said: “On Thursday, I went to the club with my partner as we often do.

“I went upstairs for the bingo and the quiz and went to the bar.

“I was served a lager but, because I had a bit of a cough, I asked for some water as well.

“The bar staff said they were under orders not to serve tap water to customers.

“They said they can sell bottles of water but not tap water.”

(Image: Ian Cooper)

Linda, who works as a support worker, said she was shocked at the decision because she believed the club, as a licenced premises, was legally obliged to provide drinking water.

“I felt belittled,” she said, “I’ve been going in for 15 years - I go in regularly.

“I’m not a troublemaker. I’m not normally a person who would speak out.”

Colin Pearson, club secretary, disputed Ms Sandbach’s version of events, however.

He confirmed that the club’s policy for over 15 years has been to provide tap water only to people with a medical requirement.

A spokesman for Stockton Council said there is a mandatory condition relating to ‘potable water’ in all licensed premises, private or not.

The mandatory condition states: “The responsible person must ensure that free potable water is provided on request to customers where it is reasonably available.”

The spokesman added: “Premises should also have a copy of their licence on display somewhere it can clearly be seen so our advice to anyone who is refused tap water is to ask to see the copy of the licence and point out this condition.”