Croydon soldiers forced to don civvies to drink in Tiger Tiger hours after parade (From Your Local Guardian)
Contact us: Got a photo? Text SLPICS to 80360, click to upload your story or call
020 8722 6392
Croydon soldiers forced to don civvies to drink in Tiger Tiger hours after parade
2:50pm Friday 30th October 2009 in
Exclusive:
Heroic soldiers returning from Afghanistan were told remove their uniforms if they wanted to continue drinking in a Croydon bar.
The troops were forced to buy civilian clothes after staff from Tiger Tiger in the High Street refused to let them stay in their Army uniforms because it breached its strict evening dress code.
The brave squaddies, from the Second Battalion The Rifles, had earlier that day been given the freedom of the borough after marching through the town centre to the cheers and tears of grateful residents.
Their battalion was part of the 19 Light Brigade who took over operations in Afghanistan’s hellish town of Sangin in April this year and had lost 13 comrades, had dozens of injuries and fought “the fight of their lives” in one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Barry Cordery from the Norbury British Legion said: “It is an absolute disgrace, they should have been welcomed in. It was all about them, they had come to Croydon because the borough invited them and they came to remember their comrade, Rifleman Danny Simpson.
“The people at Tiger Tiger should have treated them like celebrities instead of turning them away.”
Dozens of soldiers had been drinking in the bar following the march and a reception for friends and family at Fairfield Halls.
But staff at Tiger Tiger told them they must leave the bar at 8pm because they did not conform to the dress code.
A customer said: “The soldiers took it surprisingly well. A lot of them went out to Primark to buy civvies but they shouldn’t have had to. They were wearing their uniform as a badge of honour and righly so.
“If they had been fighting each other I could understand but they were just having a drink. Everyone else welcomed them to the borough so why Tiger Tiger couldn’t bend their rules for one night I don’t know.”
Tiger Tiger general manager, Ross Palmer, said: “Unfortunately it is our dress code that on Thursday nights people must come dressed in smart casual clothes.
“We understand that they have just returned from Afghanistan but that is our policy I am afraid.”
Comments(39)
willywonka77
says...
4:27pm Fri 30 Oct 09
The soldiers weren't in their 'dress' uniform but fatigues, l'd class that as smart casual.
pinkmalibu5
says...
4:39pm Fri 30 Oct 09
caz1234
says...
5:40pm Fri 30 Oct 09
caz1234
says...
5:45pm Fri 30 Oct 09
Anon Thornton Heath
says...
5:56pm Fri 30 Oct 09
They should invite the squaddies back and offer them free drinks to show their gratitude. These brave soldiers put their life on the line so that we can enjoy our liberties. I will not be drinking there again until they reverse their policy and I urge everyone to hit Tiger Tiger where it hurts most - their wallet, until they do.
Nelly1
says...
7:51pm Fri 30 Oct 09
reality-bites
says...
8:41pm Fri 30 Oct 09
Croydon is becoming even more of an embarrasement by the week!
Wouldn't happen in any other country.
palace123
says...
11:03am Sat 31 Oct 09
On Thursday my wife, daughter and I attended the parade of 2 Rifles in Croydon and the following reception at Fairfield Halls. You will not find it hard to believe how proud we were of the great welcome they received from the people of Croydon and the enormous respect we have for those soldiers who have just spent six months in one of the most dangerous places in the world. My daughter, born and bred in Croydon, worked alongside these soldiers as a medic in Sangin. At the reception she recommended Tiger Tiger to several of them as a good local venue where they might spend some time before returning to barracks for the night.
Can you imagine how my heart sank yesterday when I saw the news that these soldiers had been asked to leave Tiger Tiger because they were not smart enough? In June 2007 the Haymarket Tiger Tiger came close to being blown-up by a terrorist bomb. The reason why these guys were in Afghanistan at such a great cost to themselves is to reduce the probability of such events happening.
I look forward to seeing the news of a public apology from the management of Tiger Tiger for such thoughtless behaviour and also commend a visit to www.justgiving.com/t
rrt (The Rifles Regimental Trust) as another way of making some restitution.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
That's from Rudyard Kipling's Tommy published over 100 years ago. I would recommend reading the rest sometime. 2 Rifles aren't 'drunken soldiers', their behaviour was impeccable, shame about Tiger Tiger.
CroydonGeorge
says...
2:40pm Sat 31 Oct 09
What sort of despicable idiocy is it that cannot 'waive the rules' when British soldiers want to have a homecoming celebration; a nice friendly drink after risking their lives in a most unfriendly part of the globe.
The Gestapo always obeyed Hitler's 'policy' during the war. This Tiger Tiger management are pure 'jobsworth' types who should be totally boycotted by all Croydonians.
D I S G R A C E F U L conduct.
Sweepster
says...
3:01pm Sat 31 Oct 09
It's a pile of w**k anyway!! Only took 1 visit from me to realise that!
Shame on Ross whateverhisname is. You get back behind your bar with your policies, mate. What a tool. I'd be very embarrassed if I was him.
Rustyangel
says...
3:22pm Sat 31 Oct 09
carmeljp
says...
3:24pm Sat 31 Oct 09
His concern was for the welfare of the soldiers drinking in the bar who do receive abuse. Get your facts straight.
palace123
says...
4:09pm Sat 31 Oct 09
It's difficult to read that and see which facts we haven't got straight. And what's not smart casual about deserts? Seems to me the epitome of smart casual.
Nelly1
says...
8:33pm Sat 31 Oct 09
Anon2468
says...
9:10pm Sat 31 Oct 09
3:24pm Sat 31 Oct 09
Shame on you all for your comments. You know nothing about the Manager of Tiger Tiger. He can hold his head high along with the troups that he does and has always supported.
His concern was for the welfare of the soldiers drinking in the bar who do receive abuse. Get your facts straight.
What a load of old bull!!!!
If these soldiers did receive abuse, it wasnt from the proud british people thats for sure...
Anon2468
says...
9:13pm Sat 31 Oct 09
3:24pm Sat 31 Oct 09
Shame on you all for your comments. You know nothing about the Manager of Tiger Tiger. He can hold his head high along with the troups that he does and has always supported.
His concern was for the welfare of the soldiers drinking in the bar who do receive abuse. Get your facts straight.
What a load of old rubbish.
Rimshot
says...
11:44pm Sat 31 Oct 09
Nelly1
says...
7:51am Sun 1 Nov 09
Sweepster
says...
11:36am Sun 1 Nov 09
We've all seen how premiership footballers coming out of nightclubs in ripped jeans etc. I can't believe for a second they would be turned away (although I cant see them frequenting Croydon!)
Sweepster
says...
11:39am Sun 1 Nov 09
carmeljp wrote:You are talking out of your arsenal.
Shame on you all for your comments. You know nothing about the Manager of Tiger Tiger. He can hold his head high along with the troups that he does and has always supported.
His concern was for the welfare of the soldiers drinking in the bar who do receive abuse. Get your facts straight.
If there is any kind of 'absuing' going on it should be the abusers thrown out not those being victimised.
Although I'd have thought anyone would have a screw loose to pick on a group of army fella's. I'm pretty sure they can look after themselves.
reality-bites
says...
9:16pm Sun 1 Nov 09
Or is it just pro fundamentalist?
A British uniform is symbol of freedom, bravery and sacrifice. It's a shame Tiger Tiger is backing the other side!
Angela M
says...
10:04am Mon 2 Nov 09
Hammy Hamster
says...
2:36pm Mon 2 Nov 09
Come to think of it, we can all help him along by BOYCOTTING his bar. Get Twittering everybody !
Lez
says...
4:56pm Mon 2 Nov 09
I am absolutely disgusted.
BigPaul
says...
7:20pm Mon 2 Nov 09
Strange how these Squaddies were give the Freedom of Croydon a few hours earlier but were not Free to wear their Unifoms with PRIDE in Tiger Tiger. I would have understood if they had thier Rifles etc with them, but they didn't.
Well hopefully people will decide to give this place a miss. Me for one I don't go in there or any of the other so called Clubs in Croydon anymore.
Luke stanmore
says...
11:13am Tue 3 Nov 09
But NO you'd never see it because the thought is so wrong, mixing alcohol with such a uniform! Yes these soldiers are hero's but have YOU people ( the ones writing such negative comments) thought to stop and think how mixing alcohol with such a uniform in the public eye would be appropriate????
No it wouldn't be because no doubt the after consequences would be so high.
It just shows how unfortunately some people in the world are just small minded. One mainly being Harry Wally Miller!!!!!!
Nelly1
says...
12:41pm Tue 3 Nov 09
Luke stanmore
says...
1:15pm Tue 3 Nov 09
Nelly1 wrote:I understand the point your making Nelly1, the point i'm trying to make is that when drinking alcohol in a nightclub people don't always behave as they would normally..... And regarding your quote " a couple of drinks" i've heard many reports how they were there till early hours of the morning.
When working near an garrison in Wiltshire the army would pop into the local pub when taking part in manoeuvres in the area, these soldiers would always be in uniform. The police are not allowed to drink on duty nor are they allowed to wear their uniforms when they are off duty. It's a different kettle of fish Luke. Being a soldier is a way of life, Don't deprive these lads and lasses of a couple of drinks on their special day when they are allowed to, especially after the horrors they would of seen and hopefully horrors the likes of you and me will never see.
I agree they are right to unwind but i don't agree with the time and place, i.e. in uniform in a nightclub on a busy night, which is far from your experience with soldiers popping into a local pub!
Tafkar
says...
1:52pm Tue 3 Nov 09
I saw no comments about these soldiers being drunk, abusive or displaying any thuggish behaviour on that or any other night in Croydon.
The point here is that they have just returned from a war zone, that very afternoon they had attended a parade through Croydon and they went to Tiger Tiger on their way back to barracks.
Police officers drinking in uniform could be confused with still being "on the job". Last time I looked Croydon was not an 'official' war zone and therefore seeing people in combats would not make me assume they were still at work!
You should check your facts before calling patriotic British people commenting on this site names as you did in your first post.
Tiger Tiger is a bar not some fancy nightclub. The soldiers were there for a few drinks on their way back home - do you also disagree that manual council workers should have to go home and get changed out of their clothes covered with an honest days grime before enjoying a beer??? Dustbin men, milkmen, shop workers etc etc do they have to change out of their uniforms too??
Don't be so ridiculous.
Funny that you have put your full name on here - or is your real name Ross Palmer, manager of Tiger Tiger???
fatbas55
says...
8:17pm Tue 3 Nov 09
As recompense tiger tiger should donate ALL profits to Help for Heroes or a free party for the soldiers. Alternatively Croydon Council should now review tiger tigers drinks license
jacktee
says...
3:43am Thu 5 Nov 09
jacktee
says...
4:42am Thu 5 Nov 09
PurleyGirl
says...
11:27am Fri 6 Nov 09
PurleyGirl
says...
11:36am Fri 6 Nov 09
Rimshot
says...
11:51am Fri 6 Nov 09
jacktee wrote:Thank you Jacktee, I agree with what you are saying but if you choose to read my first comment up above you will see that we are not all being led like lambs to slaughter. I'll list one of my points again.........."As we all know Forces personal are issued with combat fatigues and also smart dress uniforms. There is a reason for this. I salute our soldiers for not making a fuss and doing the right thing under the circumstances if they wished to remain and enjoy a drink".
These types of articles infuriate me when i read them, because people always miss the point and become one sided with no facts. I was there on this night and i agree with what Tiger did. I heard myself on numerous occasions as walking through the bar that night from young disrespectful guys saying i'm gonna punch one of those soldiers in the head, we will start on them later arrogant d***ks think they are it etc... That's what you get nowadays, there isn't any respect for anyone, plus the whole thing of Clubbing in Croydon, i don't know why this is, but there is just so much attitude from everyone, no one can just go out, have fun and not start a fight. I have seen many fights start for the most stupid of reasons. Tiger know there bar like any other bar in Croydon, they no how and where trouble can start. Any good bar would and should take all steps to prevent fights. With the soldiers uniform on they BECOME A TARGET; Tiger were looking out for these soldiers asking them to follow the smart casual code, because they knew with the soldiers uniform on, they become a target to these young disrespectful guys that can't handle there drink, and fights start.
People seemingly hear that something is offensive, seek it out, become offended and then share it with someone else to continue the cycle of stupidity and slander. Go ahead, ban yourselves from going to the bar, most of you have probably never even visited the place before, so stop your moaning and jumping on the band wagon. The manager took and made a decision, that is what managers do, it's what he/she is paid for and you may not like it but there you go. And like Jacktee, I think he was thinking along the lines of "avoiding" any conflict, not along the lines of degrading our brave soldiers. Thanks guys for laying it on the line for us overseas, it is much appreciated.
Anon2468
says...
1:00am Sun 8 Nov 09
Anon2468
says...
11:37am Sun 8 Nov 09
sandral
says...
10:17am Mon 9 Nov 09
I have just read the report in the Croydon Guardian re your decision to ask the soldiers drinking in your bar to leave by 8pm due to your dress code.
Are you completely oblivious to what is happening in the world?
These guys have been fighting for your country and the possibility of attacks here in the UK. YOU take it upon yourself to BAN these guys due to their dress code. What is wrong with you? Where is your respect for them? Did you not realise we as residents and workers in Croydon are very very proud of the soldiers. They fight risking their lives and dying for us. Does this not bring a tear to your eye? Families are losing loved ones, they see colleagues die and all you can do is BAN them I have been a regular user of Tiger Tiger, I am sorry to say I will not be visiting your establishment in future. There are many colleagues of mine who also share my views.
Did you not feel anything for these people, and buy them a drink on the house?
Maybe you need to look at behaviour before looking at dress code, which I feel in Croydon maybe, is of some importance. I am one for looking smart but there are other issues sometimes to be considered before dress. You maybe need to look into people person skills being a “General Manager” before you upset more people.
These soldiers have been given the FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH by the Mayor, and your actions make a mockery of this.
More News stories
- Space pens to be sent to servicemen
- Marine found hanged after returning from Afghanistan
- Cannabis farmer jailed for 10 years for killing burglar
- Family of raid death reggae artist Smiley Culture call for justice
- Police rescue snow bound blind woman and her guide dog
- Quad bikes to be used to clear snow
- Teams prepare to move 26-tonne mixer that hit train
- Tooting nurse praised for Afghan work
- Hiking across the Sahara in memory of Rifleman
- Croydon bids farewell to hero Private Jonathan Monk
Croydon soldiers forced to don civvies to drink in Tiger Tiger hours after parade
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Tafkar says...
3:09pm Fri 30 Oct 09
Ross Palmer - didn't you see these lads marching past your bar earlier in the day? Did you see those in wheelchairs? Did you even consider what they have been through in the last 6 months?
You should have felt honoured that they chose to drink in your establishment.
To hell with your dress code - these guys had been given the freedon of the borough and that includes your bar.
I hope on reflection of your actions last night you will feel deeply ashamed.
I hope that people will vote with their feet against your disgraceful actions.