A bar in an English town has banned female-fronted bands, claiming customers don't like them.
But Doctor Brown's in Middlesbrough says it's not being sexist.
"It's nothing to do with me, it's the pub's regulars who come in every week - they won't come in if there's a female singer," manager Paula Rees told the Northern Echo.
"I'm not a rock fan so can't judge myself, but I've been told that some women can sing and some can't, but they can't sing heavy rock. If we put a poster up and our regulars know there's a woman in the band, they won't give them a chance - they're my bread and butter and we can't risk nobody coming in."
On Facebook, Doctor Brown's has been hit with several angry messages in response.
"I have never heard of a more ass-backwards, sexist, and ridiculous example of discrimination in this day and age until I read your story banning female-fronted bands. If your 'bread and butter' patrons have this mentality, then your enabling is only fuel for the fire," writes Facebook user T Ray Verteramo.
"Not sure what century you think we are living in but women most definitely can rock," adds Damon Hawke.
Musician Hannah Sowerby says two bands she plays with, Revenant and Syndicate 66, both had gigs cancelled after Doctor Brown's discovered they had female members.
"It is a sexist attitude from the regulars and there's no excuse for it in 2017, you'd think we'd be past this by now," Sowerby told the Northern Echo.
However, the Doctor Brown's Facebook page says the pub has only banned one band with a female singer and not because of her gender.
Despite the comments from Rees, the bar claims to have female-fronted bands booked to play in 2018.
Newshub.
