Shop slammed as Britain’s ‘most unwelcoming’ store after owner refuses entry to shoppers without masks

A VILLAGE STORE has been dubbed Britain’s “most unwelcoming” shop after the owner has stood strong on her no-mask, no-entry policy.

Maria Burke, who runs North Cave News, in North Cave, Yorkshire, was horrified when she found out the nickname of her store.

Hull Brexit and “freedom” campaigner, Andrew Ellison tweeted to say he was passing through when he spotted the store.

Mr Ellison said to his followers: “Is this the most unwelcoming shop in the UK? And they are willing to discriminate against the medically exempt.

“Welcome to the UK. There are times when I don’t recognise my country.”

He also shared a photo of the shop which has NINE official and homemade signs urging people to wear a mask.

WHAT A DUMMY

Maria has also attached two dummies to the front door of the shop with a note that says “If you want to argue and kick-off please save your breath I’ve heard it all. But please feel free to take one of these.”

The shop has been in Maria’s family for more than 40 years and she has defended her decision for the strict no-mask, no-entry policy.

However, some Twitter users compared it to scenes from the dark comedy The League of Gentlemen and said: “Have you taken a trip to Royston Vasey?”

While others came to Maria’s defence. Jo Wilson-Scaife said: “How dare you put this on social media this lady hasn’t had a day off in the whole of the pandemic, she has worked hard for the local community delivering all over our area, and you come along and tweet this.

“You are nothing but a bully! This lady is trying to keep everyone safe.”

NO MASK NO ENTRY

Since midnight on July 19, “Freedom Day” laws in England requiring masks to be worn in shops and other indoor settings have been lifted.

Social distancing is no longer required, and mask-wearing is optional except on public transport, where in London it remains compulsory and in other parts of England, still remains advised.

She said throughout the pandemic she has been targeted by anti-maskers, and some customers have even thrown things at her.

She said: “Honestly if you’d heard what I have been called,

“We have put ourselves out and tried to keep open and ourselves safe and open for the locals, and we get criticisms like this. I am really upset.

“I’ve had people coming in and saying they can’t wear one and then pulling one out of their pocket, or builders who claim they have asthma, and then pull their t-shirt over their faces, what’s the difference? I have asthma and I wear one.”

“I’ve had a guy saying he will get someone to come and get me because he didn’t want to put a mask on, a woman said she was sending someone to rob me.

“I’ve had people throw stuff off the shelves, a bolt thrown at my door. It has been like this since the start of the pandemic.

Ms Burke said she wants to protect her elderly customers who she has been looking after throughout the pandemic, and hasn’t had a day off since it began.

She added: “People come to us because they feel safe coming in here, this is largely an elderly population who shop here and we are just trying to keep them, ourselves and our staff safe.

“We need to keep looking after each other. It’s selfishness otherwise, people might have someone vulnerable at home that they’re protecting.”

However, Mr Allison was unrepentant about his viewpoint, adding: “It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear masks, and as I alluded to in my tweet, the evidence that mask-wearing is effective in reducing transmission is not there. She shouldn’t treat potential customers as babies.”