A quiet Sunday afternoon at a Castle Vale pub in Birmingham turned tense when a group of flag-waving revellers were refused entry.
The crowd, which had gathered as part of a protest outside a nearby hotel housing asylum seekers, clashed with staff at the Manor Farm pub, leaving a female manager at the centre of a storm.
Footage from the confrontation quickly went viral, prompting outrage and debate online.
Staff Stand Firm Amid Abuse
In the video, the pub’s manager can be seen standing behind two colleagues acting as doormen, calmly telling one protester that the pub would serve everyone—provided they behaved appropriately.
However, the group outside was drunk and aggressive, making it clear they were not just there for a drink.
The footage shows a man verbally abusing the manager, calling her a “lefty scumbag,” “disgusting,” and “vile” for refusing to let him in unless he put his St George’s flag away.
He accused her of being unpatriotic, shouting: “It’s your own country and you don’t even like your own flag.”
A Family Pub Protecting Its Community
The Manor Farm, owned by UK pub giant Greene King, is known as a family-friendly venue.
A duty manager explained that the pub reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone whose behaviour is rowdy or unsafe.
“I’ve seen the video on Twitter, but it doesn’t tell the whole story,” said the manager, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“That man was part of a 200-strong protest outside the hotel next door, which houses asylum seekers.
Many were drunk and aggressive. We have a responsibility to keep our pub safe for families and other guests.”
Refugees Welcome, Troublemakers Not
The pub shares a car park with the Holiday Inn Express, home to many refugees who frequently visit the pub without causing any problems.
Staff emphasized that these visitors are always welcome.
“It was the protestors causing the trouble,” a source said. “Many were draped in England flags and wanted to storm the pub.
Most were men, but there were some women too.
Our team did what any licensed premises would—refuse entry to protect everyone’s safety.”
Public Support for the Manager
Despite the shocking verbal abuse, business at the pub carried on as usual.
Families and friends continued to enjoy lunch specials and the traditional carvery.
Local customers expressed strong support for the manager.
Karen, a mother who saw the video, said: “The behaviour of that man was absolutely shocking.
It does not make me proud to be British.” Her friend added, “She had every right to ban him.
The language he used was vile and completely unacceptable.”
Greene King Backs Its Team
A spokesperson for Greene King reaffirmed the company’s stance: “The safety and security of our teams and customers is our utmost priority.
Our pubs are places for people to come together without being caught up in a protest.
We do not allow political protest materials inside and ask customers to put them away before entering.”
Life at the Pub Goes On
The Manor Farm manager remains off duty following the incident while Greene King reviews staff safety measures.
However, the pub continues to thrive as a welcoming spot for families and local residents.
“We like to think of ourselves as part of the community,” the manager said.
“That incident hasn’t affected our business.
We’re busy as usual, and we’ll keep doing what we do best—serving everyone safely.”
