FESTIVE cheer appeared to have been missed off the menu at a York bar as door staff refused entry to punters wearing Christmas jumpers.

Management at Biltmore Bar & Grill in Swinegate issued an apology yesterday to customers who were turned away by agency door staff on Saturday night on the grounds that they were wearing Christmas jumpers.

In a statement released on social media websites Facebook and Twitter, staff at Biltmore said they were unaware of the stance being taken, and have since complained to the company that provides the door staff.

The statement said: “It has come to our attention that the door staff on Saturday night upset a lot of people by refusing them entry because they were wearing Christmas Jumpers.

“We would just like to make it clear that this was NOT the management’s decision and we had no idea that people were being refused, given that there were many people inside wearing this festive garment.

“The door staff are not employed by us and we have made a complaint to the door company on this matter. Once again we offer our sincerest apologies and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.”