A woman claims that her partner being refused entry into a hotel restaurant over his outfit ruined their £300 weekend getaway.
Samantha Hyde, 34, explained that it was her partner's shoes that did not meet the luxury hotel's dress code.
The couple were denied entry for their 7.30pm dinner reservation at the Lifehouse Spa and Hotel near Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, and were told they were unable to dine with fellow guests.
Advert
Her partner, company director, Samuel Beckett, was informed that his £150 designer leather sliders were not permitted as they violated the dress code.
As an alternative, they were given a choice to eat in an empty restaurant at 6pm, or dine in their hotel room alone by the 'scruffy restaurant manager'.
The couple had paid £300 for their overnight staycation, which included dinner and breakfast.
Advert
Furious hairdresser, Samantha, told the MailOnline: "I just can't believe what happened to us - it was diabolical.
"'We are good citizens with respectful jobs and and we were treated like we had been doing something illegal and wrong - it ruined the entire weekend which was meant to be a celebration."
She continues: "We were told you can't eat your dinner in the restaurant because of your footwear. We weren't allowed to be seen in public. It was so embarrassing.
Advert
"We were treated with the most antagonistic behaviour, being belittled, judged and sent quite frankly what felt like threatening emails."
Samuel, 36, claims the snafu wasn't a sartorial choice, but the £150 Tommy Mallet sliders were his only option as he had forgotten his other shoes.
The couple claim that they had made the receptionist and the restaurant aware ahead of their booking time.
"He had a shirt and dinner trousers. I had a dress and a pair of open toed shoes," Samantha says, painting a picture of their ensembles.
Advert
But despite assuming the shoes wouldn't be an issue, they later received an email saying the sliders did not meet the dress code and if they did not eat at 6pm ahead of the other suited and booted diners, their reservation would be cancelled.
"I was told that my open-toed shoes were suitable, but Sam's weren't," Samantha told the MailOnline.
"It doesn't make sense that women are allowed in the restaurant in the same style of footwear but men aren't - that's discrimination."
Advert
So just how bougie was the accommodation?
The hotel's website suggests that it's an informal affair during the day, with bathrobes and sportswear welcome at both breakfast and lunch.
However, when the sun goes down, the style stakes are raised with dinner dress code described as 'smart casual'.
The couple were told they could eat there and then, even dressed in their swimwear, but dining later with the other guests was out of the question.
So annoyed by the snub, the pair left the hotel that night without eating or sleeping as they felt they were no longer welcome.
Lifehouse Spa and Hotel refused to refund their overnight stay and told the MailOnline it was looking into the matter.
LADbible has approached the hotel for comment.
Amelia Jones