Wetherspoon pub evacuated after ‘rat took chip from customer's hand'

04 February 2016 by
Wetherspoon pub evacuated after ‘rat took chip from customer's hand'

A JD Wetherspoon pub in Trowbridge in Wiltshire had to be evacuated after a rat allegedly took a chip out of a diner's hand.

Staff immediately cleared the pub and called in pest controllers after mechanic Reese Combs, who was dining with his girlfriend Lucy Wrenn at the Albany Palace pub, told staff a rat had run up his leg and taken a chip from his hand.

"I thought: ‘that rat has some serious confidence'. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I told a member of staff and there was panic and we were all told to leave," Combs told the Daily Mail.

The couple received a £25 refund for their meal.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that two rats were spotted in the pub last night [2 February].

"We are aware that one of the rats took a chip which had fallen on the floor from a customer's meal, but can't confirm the fact that it ran up a customer's trouser.

"Following the sighting the pub was closed for 30 minutes and once checks had been made, reopened.

"Customers in the pub at the time were understanding of the situation. We have since called in pest control experts who have dealt with the situation.'

"We are not sure how the rats came into the pub, however that has been some fly tipping in the alley at the rear of the pub and this might have been a factor.

"We aim to uphold the highest standards in our pubs at all times and apologise to customers for this situation. We believe it is now under control."

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