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Rockers were allegedly asked to leave a Newcastle pub because of their clobber.

The heavy metal fans say they were asked to leave the City Tavern, on Northumberland Road, because they did not fit the bill following the pub’s recent overhaul.

The pub was an early port of call for Claire ‘Metal Zed’ Warnes, Kristina Stegs, Hadrian ‘Fistkill’ Lannen, Gary ‘Saxon’ Smith, ‘Wolfy’ Rose Swainston, Lee ‘Anderbro’ Anderson and Helen ‘Gaffa’ Gaffney on Saturday night.

They were initially served by bar staff without comment. However, they say that changed when the owner saw them.

The group say they were first asked to move from the table they had sat down at, and then eventually asked to leave completely.

Lee Anderson, of Walker, Newcastle, said: “The owner insisted that the pub has no dress code, yet he also said ‘You’ve came in here with Slayer T-shirts and belts, it’s not a good look,’ despite none of us wearing Slayer T-shirts or even being fans of the band.”

The pub, off Northumberland Street, used to be called LYH and was known for its ‘Rock Nights’. However, earlier this year, it underwent a £250,000 refurbishment.

Lee, 22, has been a regular at the premises for nearly four years and was so shocked at how they were treated he approached the owner for a fuller explanation.

“He said we shouldn’t have been served in the first place. People are allowed to bring their dogs in but we can’t drink there. It brings you down and puts a dampener on the night.

“I wish we had demanded a full refund right when he told us we weren’t welcome, I feel sick knowing money I’ve earned from working is now in his pocket.

“I’m a member of CAMRA and I’ll be sending a letter about the awful experience.”

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Meanwhile Claire Warnes, 32, said: “We’ve travelled all over Europe, to places like Albania and Turkey where this style of dress is very rare, and we’ve never had any problems.”

In a statement, David King, owner and managing director of Bar Hound which runs City Tavern, said: “Since the recent change of ownership and the completion of a major refurbishment, thanks to a different philosophy City Tavern is now very different from the pub it once was. Customers enjoy a food-led bar with a laid back ambience and our focus is on serving great food and great beers in comfortable surroundings.”

There has been a backlash on the pub’s Facebook page, with hundreds of angry people leaving one star reviews and criticising the owner for being “discriminatory” and “disgustingly inconsiderate”.

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