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Diners at a pub in Somerset have been left ‘outraged’ and ‘appalled’ after a ‘naked couple’ walked in and ordered a meal.
Punters at The Railway in Burnham-on-Sea were ‘shocked’ when the pair of naturists sat down to enjoy their dinner at the ‘family friendly’ pub on Friday evening.
The pair of naturists stopped off in the Somerset pub while en route to Cornwall for a naked break, having enjoyed a nude drink in another pub the previous night in Bristol.
Pub staff later defended their decision to serve the two friends – Neil Cox, 34, and Danielle Quiggan, 35 – as they claimed to be proud of their ‘inclusivity’.
However, customers at the pub in Somerset were quick to express their dismay as they said they were ‘concerned’ for families and young children.
Naturists Neil Cox, 34, (left) and Danielle Quiggan, 35, (right) enjoyed a meal in a Somerset pub
The Railway in Burnham-on-sea was hit with a barrage of negative reviews following the couple’s visit as punters said they were ‘outraged’ and ‘appalled’
The naturists previously had a nude drink in a pub in Bristol and walked naked through the city’s Clifton Downs park and Harbourside area, before stopping in nearby Burnham-on-Sea for a meal.
Mr Cox claimed to have felt ‘very comfortable in Bristol’ but ‘less comfortable’ in the Somerset pub, after a barrage of negative reviews were posted on the internet.
Having contacted the pub ahead of their visit, the pair were soon seated by staff and enjoyed a meal ‘in the corner’.
Yet following their meal at the ‘family run’ pub, a number of patrons took to TripAdvisor with complaints about the duo and their meal.
Mr Cox, who previously did a 1,000 mile naked cycle last year for charity, said he found the negative reviews ‘deeply saddening’.
He claimed to have made over 500 visits to ‘shops, bars, and other businesses’ while in the nude without experiencing any negative responses previously.
He also claimed most of the other customers simply got back to their drinks, while a few even asked them for pictures.
Staff defended their decision to serve the naturists as they claimed researched the rules on naturism and accepted the booking, describing it as a ‘learning experience’.
A spokesperson for the Railway Inn said: ‘We have received both negative and positive comments which we have taken on board, however naturism is legal within the UK and we pride ourselves on inclusivity and welcome everyone’s individuality and differences.’
The naturists (pictured) stopped in the pub while on their way to Cornwall for a naked break
Margaret Lishmund, who was in the pub when the couple arrived, quickly decided to find somewhere else for dinner.
Posting on the review site she wrote: ‘We visited the pub this evening at 6pm to have dinner.
‘Whilst ordering drinks a couple walked up to the bar naked which was a shock for all in the pub.
‘We expected the bar man to refuse to serve them. There were several families with children in the pub, including ourselves, therefore it was not appropriate for them to be served.
We decided to leave the pub and find somewhere else for dinner in town. Unfortunately another family were not able to as they had already ordered food. If you advertise as a family pub you should maintain these values.
‘Locals who frequent the pub apologised to us, but the staff seemed to think this was okay. Very disappointing,’ she concluded.
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One customer called Sarah had taken her parents to the pub on Friday night and said she was ‘outraged’ to see the pair in the bar.
In a one-star review of the pub, she said: ‘Appalling. If you want to go to a family pub with average food and staff serving a naked man accompanied by a naked woman then this is for you.’
Customers at the pub said they were appalled by the naked duo’s visit
They took to trip advisor to express their shock as they claimed to be concerned about families
Another customer described the experience ‘shocking’, as they vowed never to return to the pub again.
‘We found food and staff pleasant. We went for the second time last night, were shocked to see naked couple arrive and be served,’ Euroexp123 said.
‘We were concerned as there were families and young children there. I heard one customer mention this to the staff. As other people have said, staff seemed unconcerned. We will not be going again.’
Mr Cox told SomersetLive: ‘During our break away we were naked most of the time. Where I live there are shops, grocery stores and pubs where I go in regularly that accept I am a naturist.’
‘We don’t think the reaction on TripAdvisor was reflective of what actually happened in the pub in Burnham-on-Sea.
‘It was a new place and people were not expecting it and there was an element of surprise when we first walked in. We sat in the corner of the pub and had our meal. People quickly went back to their drinks and got on with their day.
‘After all two naked people sitting in a corner of a pub having a beer and burger quickly becomes boring.
‘Several people came over to us whilst we were there to have a chat and ask questions or request a photo. We had checked with the pub first and got their permission to visit.’
‘We also stopped off in Bristol on Thursday night and went to a pub there and received no reaction to us being naked at all,’ Mr Cox added.
Another customer said they were left ‘speechless’ by the naturists visit
Some customers were less bothered by the nudity and said they would return
One customer said they were glad the pub is so ‘accepting’ of different lifestyles
‘We spent the day walking around Clifton Downs and the Harbourside. We felt very comfortable in Bristol but less comfortable in the pub in Somerset.
‘I’ve made over 500 visits to shops, bars and other businesses whilst naked and as far as I’m aware not one of those visits has ever resulted in a single negative review.
‘Danielle and I find it deeply saddening that in 2023 an individual has attacked a small business that is trying to demonstrate acceptance and tolerance.’
It is not an offence in itself to be naked in public in England and Wales, unless it can be proven a person took their clothes off to upset or shock other people.
Many naturists will restrict their activities to specially designated areas with traditions of naked activity, such as nudist beaches.
The Crown Prosecution Service says: ‘In the case of naturism a balance needs to be struck between the naturist’s right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress.’
‘In the absence of any sexual context and in relation to nudity where the person has no intention to cause alarm or distress it will normally be appropriate to take no action unless members of the public were actually caused harassment, alarm or distress.’
