Seagulls have been driving punters at the Imperial up the wall (Picture: SWNS)

A creative solution is being tried to stop menacing flocks of seagulls from snatching food from a popular beer garden.

Drinkers at the Imperial Wetherspoon pub are regularly terrorised by the birds and have been caught on camera trying to bat them away.

The situation has got so bad bosses at the pub in Exeter, Devon, have introduced a more fearsome bird of prey to scare them off.

The issue came to a head recently when two dinners were snatched from separate tables in just under an hour.


Staff were forced to clear the mess and offer replacement meals and said this was just a snapshot of the ongoing problem.

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Pub bosses are bringing in a bird of prey to keep the seagulls at bay (Picture: SWNS)

Frustrated drinkers were filmed trying to bat the birds away (Picture: SWNS)

A spokesman for Wetherspoon said: ‘We can confirm that a large number of gulls, at The Imperial, is causing disruption for customers and staff in the pub gardens.



‘Unfortunately, due to the size of the gardens, netting would be an impractical solution, because of the wide open space.

‘Other options have been researched and a natural bird deterrent option has been agreed.

‘Management at the pub have just gained approval for a Bird of Prey bird deterrent programme, to be carried out in the garden, as soon as possible.’

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