Rat ruins Wetherspoon pub meal by 'running up man's leg and stealing a chip'

'I can't stand rats and you never expect that kind of thing in a restaurant'

Albany Palace Pub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Google Maps)

A "sewer-sized" rat interrupted a couple's pub lunch by reportedly climbing up the man's leg and stealing a chip.

The alleged incident occurred while Reece Combs was eating with girlfriend Lucy Wrenn at the Albany Palace, a JD Wetherspoon pub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Mr Coombs said: "It felt like somebody had kicked me, then a rat ran up my leg and took the chip out of my hand and bolted.

"I thought, 'that rat has some serious confidence'.

"I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I can't stand rats and you never expect that kind of thing in a restaurant."

After he informed staff of the rodent's unwanted visit, customers were asked to leave while pest controllers dealt with the situation, according to the BBC.

The pub reopened 30 minutes later after two rats were caught.

The couple were given a full refund but Mr Coombs says he plans to take the matter further.

A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said they could not confirm the rat ran up Mr Coombs leg, stating they were "aware that a rat took a chip which had fallen on the floor from a customer's meal"

The spokesman added: "We are not sure how the rats came into the pub, however there has been some fly tipping in the alley at the rear of the pub and this might have been a factor.

"We aim to uphold the highest standards in our pubs at all times and apologise to customers for this situation."