A PUNTER who has drunk at his local Newquay pub for nearly 30 years says he's been left disappointed after he and his fellow drinkers were banned from taking their pints outside.
Jim McPhail, 68, has written a personal letter, which 30 others have signed, to the Sailor's Arms expressing his disappointment with the pub's move.
Mr McPhail, a regular at the Sailor's Arms for 27 years who also worked on the door there, claimed management had banned punters from taking drinks outside the front of the pub unless they were eating.
He said staff at the Fore Street pub, which was a favourite of The Beatles when they filmed their Magical Mystery Tour in Newquay back in 1967, had to go outside and ask people to move inside with drinks after they had finished their meal and that locals were furious because of it.
Mr McPhail has called on the pub's management to reconsider.
"We wish to notify the management of the pub company, and just as importantly the management of the Sailor's Arms, that since their pub refurbishment most of the locals that use the pub are in uproar regarding the decision not to allow customers to take their drinks outside the front of the pub unless they are eating food," he said.
"We would like to point out that burgers and chips or chilli and chips do not constitute in the management's eyes a meal. Therefore we are not allowed to drink at the front of the pub which in the summer is a wonderful sun trap.
"The majority of the staff are excellent and do a very good job. Suffice to say many [regulars] have left the pub in disgust.
"John Cain and myself have been drinking in the Sailor's Arms, John for over 40 years and myself for some 27 years, and over that time we've both worked on the door.
"We appreciate that this doesn't give us any special treatment but at the end of the day we are locals and believe [them] not allowing us to enjoy a drink with or without food is a step too far.
"Also, as it's non-smoking inside, people go outside to have a cigarette and take their drink with them. This also is going to be stopped.
"We urgently request that the management of the pub look again at their decision not to allow drinks outside the front of the pub and consider the locals' point of view."
The management of the pub was not available for comment when approached by the Cornish Guardian.
