Actor Shane Richie was barred from a nightclub because he refused to remove his hat.
The former EastEnders star was in Malvern on tour with the stage adaptation of Peter James novel Not Dead Enough and fell foul of the dress code at the Malvern Lounge when he went out for a post-show drink.
Shane, 52, stars in the play as DS Roy Grace opposite Strictly Come Dancing contestant Laura Whitmore, and he tweeted his frustration at being told to change his outfit if he wanted to enter the bar.
He tweeted a photo of himself in the baker boy-style hat.
The hat that offended management at Malvern lounge @thewhitmore wouldn’t mind but it was bleedin empty ! pic.twitter.com/y3hgF2iGyk
— Shane Richie (@realshanerichie) February 24, 2017
But even Shane’s son Shane Nolan supported the bar’s door policy.
@realshanerichie rules are rules dad
— Shane Nolan (@iamshanenolan) February 24, 2017
Others didn’t see the problem, either.
@realshanerichie @Morgan7J @thewhitmore
to proud to take hat off? Were you asked politely remove hat or leave? If yes what’s your problem!?— Stephen Ballard (@ledpinkgen) February 25, 2017
However, there were jokes about the style of Shane’s hat.
@realshanerichie @thewhitmore Did they think you were in the peaky blinders, and going to cause trouble?!
— James Isherwood (@JCI81) February 25, 2017
Other fans sent Shane supportive messages about his choice of headwear.
@realshanerichie you can wear as many hats as you like in Bristol pubs. Looking forward to seeing your show on Thursday!
— Helen Williams (@Hels101) February 25, 2017
Bar owner Matt Fletcher sent Shane an apology about the incident and invited him back.
@realshanerichie @thewhitmore please feel free to come in 2moro and have a drink with me, it’s on me this time x
— Matt Fletcher (@mattfletcher82) February 25, 2017
When a Malvern resident told Shane about a coffee shop he should try, the star asked a pressing question.
Can I wear a hat ? https://t.co/zKV3LI4fTO
— Shane Richie (@realshanerichie) February 25, 2017
Shane has been absent from EastEnders of late but Alfie and Kat will be back on our screens later in the year.
Viewers will see the pair in spin-off Redwater, searching for Kat’s long-lost son in a tiny Irish village.
In the show, “Kat’s quest for the truth uncovers secrets that the village of Redwater would rather were left buried at sea”.
Danish director Jesper Nielsen, whose credits include Borgen, is directing the drama, created by former EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins.
“Now is the perfect time to take two of EastEnders’ most beloved and enduring characters out of their comfort zone as they head to Ireland to search for answers to some very big questions,” he previously said.
“My team here are very excited about creating a whole new drama that stands apart from EastEnders while taking our style of storytelling to a place of stories, myth, secrets and immeasurable beauty.”
Redwater also stars Fionnula Flanagan, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Ian McElhinney, Angeline Ball, Peter Campion and Stanley Townsend.