A luxurious hotel and restaurant has banned caps, flip flops, and football shirts as part of a controversial new dress code. 

The Impeccable Pig, in Sedgefield, announced on Friday that it would be introducing a “strict dress code policy” at the popular Front Street venue. 

Shorts, sportswear, vests, and tracksuits are among the items now barred from the eatery - and an over 21s policy has also been drafted in at the bar area. 

Under-21s are still able to dine in the restaurant under the new policy - but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and leave by 9pm. 

The Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield

The over-21s policy in the bar is "at the manager's discretion."

The news, announced on Instagram in a now-deleted post, sparked some backlash from customers, with one person saying online: “They having a laugh?” 

Although the post has been taken down, a spokesperson for the venue confirmed the policy remains in place.

The full list of banned items is as follows: 

  • No shorts
  • No sportswear
  • No caps
  • No vests
  • No flip flops
  • No tracksuits
  • No football shirts 

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Home to 12 “carefully crafted and subtly themed rooms” and a bistro-style restaurant, The Impeccable Pig first opened in 2018 following a £1.5m refurbishment.

The restaurant is highly regarded for its “amazing” food and rooms, with the “polite staff” and “beautiful” surroundings praised online. 

A statement from the venue said: “The Impeccable Pig has introduced some restrictions in response to feedback from guests, diners and regulars.

"We are still more than happy to have young people at the venue in the company of adults in both the restaurant and the bar.

"We have also created a dress code which we think is appropriate for our venue and still gives people the option to be both smart and casual."