Pub Forced to Apologise After April Fools Joke Backfires

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A pub tried to have a laugh with an April Fools’ joke… and ended up apologising to the council.

Yeah — it didn’t quite go to plan.

What was meant to be a bit of harmless banter quickly turned into complaints, confusion, and a full-on backlash.

The Joke That Started It

The drama kicked off at Lochy’s, a popular local sports bar.

They posted on social media claiming they were launching something new:

Serving pints from 9am.

Not just that — they even teased “breakfast and pint” deals to go with it.

For most people, it was obviously an April Fools.

But not everyone saw it that way.

People Took It Seriously

The post spread quickly… and so did the reaction.

Local pubs weren’t impressed.
And neither was East Renfrewshire Council.

Instead of laughs, the joke caused confusion and complaints — with some taking it completely at face value.

From Banter to Backlash

What should’ve been a bit of fun turned into what the pub later described as “chaos”.

The team ended up issuing a public apology, admitting the joke didn’t land the way they expected.

They confirmed:

  • No, they are not opening at 9am
  • No, early morning pints are not happening

And yes… lesson learned.

“We’ll Hold Our Hands Up”

In their apology, the pub made it clear they never meant to cause any issues.

They said they take their responsibilities seriously and want to run the pub properly within the community.

They also promised next year’s April Fools would be a bit more… careful.

Locals Found It Funny

Despite the backlash, plenty of customers were on the pub’s side.

Comments were full of people saying:

  • It was obviously a joke
  • People need to lighten up
  • They couldn’t believe anyone took it seriously

And a few even joked they were disappointed the 9am pints weren’t actually happening.

A Bit of Fun… Gone Too Far?

It’s a reminder that even a simple joke can spiral quickly — especially when it involves pubs, alcohol, and licensing rules.

Still… you’ve got to admit:

A breakfast pint deal probably would’ve done some business.

So… harmless fun, or should pubs be more careful with jokes like this?

Pub & Social Editorial Team
Pub & Social Editorial Teamhttps://pubsocial.co.uk
The Pub & Social Editorial Team covers British pubs, local hospitality, beer culture and the people keeping community venues alive. We combine careful research with practical, independent editorial judgement.

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