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Tesco Express in Lordswood bans topless man entering store on scorching hot day

A husband was not impressed when he wasn’t allowed to enter a shop topless, yet his bikini-clad wife was allowed to go in.

On Sunday, Liam and Michelle Friday popped to Tesco Express in Newton Close, Lordswood.

The couple had just finished a family barbecue and with temperatures reaching 30C, he opted to go shirtless, while she wore a bikini top.

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Liam Friday and his wife Michelle
Liam Friday and his wife Michelle

However, when they reached the supermarket, a security guard barred him from entering but let his wife go in.

An unimpressed Mr Friday said: “It was 30 degrees, it was a scorching hot day, it was ridiculous. It’s a supermarket, not a restaurant or a bar. That I would completely understand.

“My wife literally had a small bikini top on, it’s 2019 not 1960.

Cartoonist Royston's take on the matter (15806873)
Cartoonist Royston's take on the matter (15806873)

“I went in there earlier the same day without a shirt on and it was no problem. But when the security guard was there I wasn’t allowed in.

“I don’t understand, it doesn’t offend anyone. He was quite happy to let her in. It’s sexist.

“She went inside but I thought I’m not going to spend my money in here if they aren’t letting me in.

“We went to the Premier down the road and it was no problem.

“Then another man without a shirt on tried to get in and he wasn’t allowed either.

“The thing for me is we’re supposed to have equal rights, but it feels like men are being treated worse than women here.”

"He was quite happy to let her in. It’s sexist..." Mr Friday

Mr Friday researched to see if Tesco had a no-shirt, no-entry policy and found multiple articles up and down the UK detailing confused customers being turned away from their local store.

A Tesco spokesman told KentOnline that dress code was down to individual stores across the country.

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