A pub plagued by hungry seagulls has had to put up signs warning punters they will not get refunds if their food is swiped.
Visitors to The Glasshouse in Norwich, Norfolk, have complained about massive birds swooping down to nick food off their plates as they sit in the beer garden.
Staff have now stuck a sign in the window which states: ‘SEAGULLS!! Please do not leave food unattended at any time.
‘We are unable to refund or recook any meals that are taken by seagulls.’
The rule has divided regulars and pub-goers in general, with some saying the JD Wetherspoon pub should be responsible for the conditions in which its customers eat their food and others insisting it is the individual’s responsibility.
Local Isla Gardner, 19, accused the ‘aggressive things’ of causing havoc and demanded a ‘fairer’ solution.
Fish and nicked: a seagull grabs a chip off a plate at The Glasshouse in Norwich
She said: ‘I have seen vicious seagulls in the garden before.
‘If customers can prove the birds took their food, they should have a refund. It’s unfair not to refund them.’
Gillian Nobbs, 78, who also lives in the city, added: ‘If a pub has outdoor seating, they should do something to get rid of the birds.
‘It’s not the responsibility of the customers to keep the birds away, it’s the responsibility of the business.’
But Steve Everitt, a regular at all three of the city’s Wetherspoon pubs which also include The Bell Hotel and the Queen of Iceni, backed the pub.
‘I would agree it’s down to the individual to guard their food. It’s a natural attraction,’ he said.
‘The pub are doing as much as they can. They aren’t responsible.’
One online commentator called for a ‘huge cull of gulls in and around Norwich’.
Staff at the Wetherspoon pub have put up a sign warning punters refunds are not available if their food is stolen
Drinkers have complained about 'massive' gulls swooping down to grab their meals
Caveat emptor! Buyers beware - the sign warns there are no refunds for food that seagulls make off with
But another said: ‘Once the food has been paid for and delivered, it's the customer's property and their responsibility to look after. There are signs giving a warning.
‘Why should the business foot the bill for people's stupidity? Guard your food or eat inside.’
One widened the blame, pointing out: ‘If there wasn't littered food and people didn't feed them in the city, the gulls would go elsewhere.
‘Entitled city dwellers who blame anyone but themselves.’
The pub got its name from the row of small shops and the The Glass House Restaurant which previously stood in the street, 'the latter recalling the glass company which had been on this site for several decades'.
It gets 3.4 stars out of five on TripAdvisor, although none of the comments mention seagulls.
Local Isla Gardner, 19, said: 'If customers can prove the birds took their food, they should have a refund.' Others have said individuals should just look out for their food
Assistance dogs are allowed - but the gulls are barely tolerated
Some drinkers complain about staff being ‘too harsh’ with ‘kicking people out’ if they’re drunk - but others congratulated them on ‘outstanding service’.
A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said the sign had been up at the pub ‘for some time’.
He added: ‘Seagulls have caused occasional problems at the Glasshouse, particularly in the summer months and the signage is in place to encourage customers not to leave their food unattended.
‘We are reviewing the problem to see whether any additional measures are necessary to deter the gulls.’
In 2024, a Wetherspoon pub enlisted the talons of three falcons to deter the flocks of seagulls which regularly divebombed customers in the beer garden .
Due to its large garden, The Imperial in Exeter, Devon, had been unable to install a net to keep the birds out and had had to turn to more inventive methods.
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