A grandmother who was refused entry to a Wetherspoons pub because she was wearing a Union Jack dress has vowed never to return despite being a regular for nearly 30 years. Tanya Ostolski, 54, tried to enter The Picture House in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, after attending an anti-migrant protest in the area on Friday, July 25. Dozens of protesters had gathered in the town centre from around 4.30pm after Reform MP Lee Anderson went against police advice to make an unverified claim that a local man charged with rape was an asylum seeker. It followed similar anti-migrant demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, near Essex, and the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf in central London, in recent weeks. After marching in the protest, Tanya made her way to her local Wetherspoons where she claims she was denied entry due to her outfit. The bouncer's refusal to let her in angered other protesters in her group, who were also turned away. A spokesperson for Wetherspoons confirmed the pub asked customers with flags and placards not to enter so as not to 'increase tension'. Tanya said: 'I'm disgusted. I won't be going back there. I go in there all the time, and I wasn't causing any trouble. 'The whole day was a peaceful protest. I'm a grandma and I've never caused any bother. 'I just can't believe this was all over a flag - it was really upsetting. I didn't do anything wrong.' According to Tanya, she was first refused entry because she was carrying a St George's cross flag. She claimed witnesses defended her - calling the bouncers actions 'unfair' as she wasn't 'causing any trouble'. Tanya said: 'I had the flag tied around my waist. He said I couldn't come in and asked me to put the flag away. 'But I had flags all over my dress and then I was told I can't come in at all. I was really confused - it's just a flag. 'I asked for a valid reason. They just kept saying, 'you're not coming in'. 'I'm not aggressive and didn't want to cause trouble, so I just walked away. People came up to me and said it was really unfair. 'I've heard I won't be welcome back or I might be barred.' JD Wetherspoons has a 'no flag' policy which prohibits the pubs from hanging the England flag - a policy that received backlash during the 2018 World Cup. But during the men's Euro 2024, the popular chain overturned the rule and allowed their pubs to hang the England flag during the summer tournament. In a statement given to Nottingham Post, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: 'Pub managers have a duty under the licensing laws, and as a matter of common sense, to judge every situation on its particular circumstances. 'In this case, the pub manager felt that it was important not to increase tensions. Therefore, on this occasion the manager asked customers not to enter with flags or any placards.' It comes after a schoolgirl was put into isolation for wearing a Union Jack dress to celebrate being British at her school's culture day. 'Straight A' student Courtney Wright, 12, wore the Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a speech about history and traditions as part of the celebrations on July 11. But the Year 7 pupil was told the dress was 'unacceptable' before being hauled out of lessons and made to sit in reception until her father collected her. Stuart Field, 47, said he was 'gobsmacked' to learn she had been segregated from her peers due to her choice of attire at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire. He added that while other pupils with St George's and Welsh flags were also turned away, students were allowed in burkas, niqabs and traditional Nigerian clothing. Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, said: 'Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. 'She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating British culture and history; nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it.' The father added: 'Another with a St Georges flag and another with a Welsh flag were not allowed in either. It was ridiculous. It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn't allowed. 'It's ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people. 'Others were allowed in burkas, niqabs or traditional Nigerian clothing.' Following outrage to the decision, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The PM has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated. 'You can see that from everything this government has done. We are a tolerant, diverse, open country, proud of being British.' Mr Field said Courtney wanted to wear the dress to celebrate being British, the Spice Girls and the freedom of being able to wear a dress. 'This was her interpretation of British culture and what it means to her,' he said. 'Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political.