Naked couple 'saddened' after pub receives bad reviews

Naked couple ‘saddened’ after pub where they enjoyed a meal receives bad reviews and claim they have visited more 500 shops, bars and restaurants and have NEVER got a ‘single’ complaint

• The two naturists have spoken out against online backlash against their visit
• Finance worker Mr Cox says he has never received a complaint previously

A pair of naturists have said they are ‘deeply saddened’ by backlash against a Somerset pub in which they enjoyed a naked meal, claiming they have visited hundreds of bars and restaurants without facing criticism. 

Finance worker Neil Cox, 34, and healthcare worker Danielle Quiggan, 35, sparked uproar after stopping off at The Railway pub in Burnham-on-Sea on Friday evening.

Their visit to the pub saw outraged diners post a torrent of bad reviews on the internet, as punters claimed they were ‘shocked’ the seaside boozer let the two naturists sit down and enjoy a dinner. 

The naturists have now spoken out against the barrage of criticism faced by the Somerset pub in stating they find it ‘deeply saddening’ that individuals would attack ‘a small business that is trying to demonstrate acceptance and tolerance.’ 

Mr Cox has now claimed to have visited more than 500 shops, bars and restaurants while nude, without receiving a single complaint.  

Naturists Neil Cox, 34, (left) and Danielle Quiggan, 35, (right) enjoyed a meal in a Somerset pub

Finance worker Neil Cox (left) and healthcare worker Danielle Quiggan, say naturism helps improve their mental health

Is naturism legal in the United Kingdom? 

Public nudity is not, in itself, illegal in the UK, unless the nude individual is causing alarm or distress to others. 

However, the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service says that in the absence of any sexual context or intention to cause alarm or distress to others, no action should be taken against naturists. 

It adds that in considering the legality of naturism, a balance must be struck to ensure nudists rights to freedom of expression are considered.

The CPS says every case of naturism should be considered according to its own facts and merits 

Pub owners later defended their decision to serve the two friends, stating the establishment prides itself on ‘inclusivity and welcome everyone’s individuality and differences.’ 

In speaking out against the online criticism, Mr Cox, from Cheshire, said the the bad reviews failed to reflect the reality of their visit. 

‘I’ve made over 500 visits to shops, bars and other businesses whilst naked. And as far as I’m aware not one of those visits has ever resulted in a single negative review.’ 

‘Danielle and I find it deeply saddening that in 2023 an individual has attacked a small business that is trying to demonstrate acceptance and tolerance.’ 

‘The reaction in the pub when we arrived was initially one of surprise but quickly moved to quiet acceptance.

‘After all, two naked people sitting in a corner of a pub having a beer and burger quickly becoming boring.

‘Several people came over to us whilst we were there to have a chat and ask questions or request a photo.

‘We weren’t aware of anyone leaving the pub and there were no angry or upset comments directed at us.

‘We felt welcome and comfortable in the Railway and would like to say thank you to the its owners, staff and customers for accepting us.’

It is not an offence in itself to be naked in public in England and Wales, unless it can be proven a person took their clothes off to upset or shock other people. 

Many naturists will restrict their activities to specially designated areas with traditions of naked activity, such as nudist beaches.

Ms Quiggan, who is originally from Australia but now lives in London, said: ‘That was the first time we’ve gone into that pub – but that was also the first time we gathered that sort of backlash and seeing the Facebook reactions blow up.’ 

The duo previously walked naked through Bristol’s Clifton Downs park to look at the city’s suspension bridge 

The Railway in Burnham-on-sea was hit with a barrage of negative reviews following the couple’s visit as punters said they were ‘outraged’ and ‘appalled’ 

READ MORE: Bargains in the buff! Seaside homes are dropping in price as picturesque beaches become havens for nudists

Mr Cox and Ms Quiggan, who are both in separate relationships and have been naturists for 10 years and five years respectively, previously enjoyed a nude drink in a pub in Bristol the night before.

The pair, who enjoy an entirely non-sexual friendship and say their partners are ‘happy’ for them to spend time together, later walked naked through Bristol’s Clifton Downs park and Harbourside area, before stopping in nearby Burnham-on-Sea for a meal on June 2. 

The naturist duo stopped off in the seaside town in Somerset while en-route to Cornwall for a break. 

Having contacted The Railway in Burnham-on-Sea ahead of calling in, the pair were soon seated by staff ‘in the corner’ of the establishment. 

They claimed to have felt ‘very comfortable in Bristol’ but ‘less comfortable’ in the Somerset pub. 

Yet following their visit to the ‘family run’ pub in the seaside Somerset village, a number of patrons took to the review website Tripadvisor with complaints about the duo and their meal.  

Mr Cox, who previously did a 1,000-mile naked cycle last year for charity, said he practices naturism to help him destress from his ‘high-pressure career’.

He says he ‘rarely’ gets dressed, due to the face he is able to work from home, and that he is ‘very comfortable’ being naked. 

‘I live this way all the time and most people are used to me. I’m very comfortable and used to this and yes, you still get attention and you can feel on show, but it’s usually curiosity rather than bad attention,’ Mr Cox said. 

‘I work in a finance job that you could describe as a high-pressure career and being able to run in the countryside naked is freeing and the opposite of sitting in a suit.’

The naturists (pictured) stopped in the pub while on their way to Cornwall for a naked break

READ MORE: I’ve been a naturist for 45 years and going naked helps me beat stress – but people think we’re a ‘cult of raving sex freaks’ 

 Ms Quiggan said being naturist benefits her mental health, and boosts her sense of body positivity.

I’m proud to be continually exploring this and proud of myself for persevering. I think I would see a change in my mental health If I stopped,’ she said.

‘More and more as I reflect on it, I find it’s really beneficial for my mental health. It’s increased my body positivity and the confidence I feel in my body.

‘I’m less worried how I appear when I’m naked that when I’m wearing clothes. You don’t think about you look, and the less time you spent thinking about that, the less time you spent worrying overall.’

Mr Cox agreed, citing a a House of Commons report from 2020 that revealed more than half of British people people feel negatively about their body.

‘Body comfort is such a big issue in the UK. Sixty-one percent of people feel negatively about their body,’ Mr Cox said. ‘In the same study they asked people to describe words they thought about their bodies.’

‘Two-thirds of people said they’d been anxious about their bodies and nine percent of people said they’d had suicidal thoughts about their body in that year. There’s lot of studies to show that people who have been introduced to naturism and nudity come away positively about their bodies and their mental health.’

Staff at The Railway later defended their decision to serve the naturists as they claimed researched the rules on naturism and accepted the booking, describing it as a ‘learning experience’. 

A spokesperson for the Railway Inn said: ‘We have received both negative and positive comments which we have taken on board, however naturism is legal within the UK and we pride ourselves on inclusivity and welcome everyone’s individuality and differences.’ 

Margaret Lishmund, who was in the pub when the couple arrived, quickly decided to find somewhere else for dinner. Posting on the review site she wrote: ‘We visited the pub this evening  at 6pm to have dinner. 

The naked pair walked in the nude around Bristol’s Clifton Down’s park (pictured) the day before going to the Burnham-on-Sea pub (File photo: Clifton Downs and houses on Sion Hill)

The naturists trip led to a torrent of bad reviews as customers at the pub said they were appalled by the naked duo’s visit

They took to trip advisor to express their shock as they claimed to be concerned about families

Some customers were less bothered by the nudity and said they would return

Another customer said they were left ‘speechless’ by the naturists visit

One customer said they were glad the pub is so ‘accepting’ of different lifestyles

READ MORE: Private dinner for 22 naturists in pub is cancelled… after locals complain the sight of naked people through the windows may distract passing drivers

‘Whilst ordering drinks a couple walked up to the bar naked which was a shock for all in the pub.

‘We expected the bar man to refuse to serve them. There were several families with children in the pub, including ourselves, therefore it was not appropriate for them to be served. 

We decided to leave the pub and find somewhere else for dinner in town. Unfortunately another family were not able to as they had already ordered food. If you advertise as a family pub you should maintain these values.

‘Locals who frequent the pub apologised to us, but the staff seemed to think this was okay. Very disappointing,’ she concluded.

One customer called Sarah had taken her parents to the pub on Friday night and said she was ‘outraged’ to see the pair in the bar. 

In a one-star review of the pub, she said: ‘Appalling. If you want to go to a family pub with average food and staff serving a naked man accompanied by a naked woman then this is for you.’

Another customer described the experience ‘shocking’, as they vowed never to return to the pub again. 

‘We found food and staff pleasant. We went for the second time last night, were shocked to see naked couple arrive and be served,’ Euroexp123 said. 

‘We were concerned as there were families and young children there. I heard one customer mention this to the staff. As other people have said, staff seemed unconcerned. We will not be going again.’

Mr Cox previosuly told SomersetLive: ‘During our break away we were naked most of the time. Where I live there are shops, grocery stores and pubs where I go in regularly that accept I am a naturist.’ 

FACT BOX: Naked fury! Naturist accuses off-duty Met officer of ‘harassment’ after he was arrested while sat nude on a bench – but then set free when Sussex Police arrived as ‘no offences were committed’

‘We don’t think the reaction on TripAdvisor was reflective of what actually happened in the pub in Burnham-on-Sea. 

‘It was a new place and people were not expecting it and there was an element of surprise when we first walked in. We sat in the corner of the pub and had our meal. People quickly went back to their drinks and got on with their day.

‘After all two naked people sitting in a corner of a pub having a beer and burger quickly becomes boring. 

‘Several people came over to us whilst we were there to have a chat and ask questions or request a photo. We had checked with the pub first and got their permission to visit.’

‘We also stopped off in Bristol on Thursday night and went to a pub there and received no reaction to us being naked at all,’ Mr Cox added. 

‘We spent the day walking around Clifton Downs and the Harbourside. We felt very comfortable in Bristol but less comfortable in the pub in Somerset.

The Crown Prosecution Service says: ‘In the case of naturism a balance needs to be struck between the naturist’s right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress.’

‘In the absence of any sexual context and in relation to nudity where the person has no intention to cause alarm or distress it will normally be appropriate to take no action unless members of the public were actually caused harassment, alarm or distress.’

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