Pub goer banned from entering pub because of kilt

London, Sept 1 : A pub made headlines when its new owners banned a regular from wearing his kilt to the pub, dubbing it as being "fancy dress".

The new owners of the Blackie Boy in Bigg Market, Newcastle, had introduced a "smart dress code" for pub goers, and wearing a kilt constituted fancy dress.

A row ensued and Paul Robson, 47, who has put on the tartan outfit every Friday and Saturday for 17 years, was shocked by the decision and believed that it touched on race.

"I'm staggered - it is completely racist," the Sun quoted Robson, of Byker, as saying.

"My kilt cost 1,700 pounds and it is in the family tartan.

"I wear it because I'm proud of my heritage, not as a joke," he added.

In defence of Robson, Pete Wishart of the Scottish National Party stated that the decision was absurd.

"It's ludicrous to suggest a kilt is not smart and to compare it to fancy dress," Wishart said.

But the pub owners stood firm in their decision to ban the wearing of kilts in the pub.

"Everyone gets refused entry in any fancy dress - that has nothing to do with kilts being Scottish," they said.

ANI