Drinkers are furious after 'disgusting' pub BANS cash and blasts staff for acting like 'Big Brother' after punter films barmaid refusing to take notes for a round

Furious punters have blasted their local pub as 'disgusting' after it refused to take cash and accused staff of acting like 'Big Brother'

The Old Vine in Winchester has turned heads (and some customers away) by announcing they will no longer accept cash payments.

The decision has been branded 'not fair' on the older generation, who said they like the freedom of spending their money without using a card or mobile phone.

Some even called for training for 'technophobes' who have been left behind in the ever-developing cashless world - which has 'caught out' pub visitors.

Others suggested there were 'frightening' possibilities of controlling the population if all businesses refused people the option of 'invisible' cash payments compared to 'traced' card transactions.

The Old Vine in Winchester has turned heads by announcing they will no longer accept cash payments.

A video shared online showed a heated discussion with an assistant bar manager (pictured) who told a customer she could not be served if she could only pay with cash

The backlash comes after one customer tried to order drinsk at the 18th century inn - which also offers guests the option to dine in or stay in one of six bedrooms - but only had a £20 note to pay with.

She posted a video on X, showing a heated discussion with an assistant bar manager who told her she could not be served if she could only pay with cash.

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Retired PA Lorraine Cole, 77, hit out at the decision and said: 'I have always got cash on me, I want to spend it.

'I think it's really disgusting that they can turn you down.

'Even when people pay me back, I want cash, not a bank transfer.

'I always carry £40 cash on me, I'd be upset if I was turned away from a pub for trying to use it.'

Although fellow retired PA Bobby Conduit admitted she could see it from the pub's point of view, she thought it should be up to the customer.

'I can see one side of it, as it makes it easier for the business by not having cash on the premises,' she conceded.

'But it's not fair on the older generation.

'We are still trying to get used to it all.

'I'd be very, very upset if I was turned away - especially when you're desperate for a drink.'

Jackie Kilpatrick warned that the new policy risked turning Winchester into 'Big Brother'

The perceived scandal comes after it was revealed almost half the population leave the house with only their phones as a means of payment

Angela Lilly, (left) Bobby Conduit, (centre) and Lorraine Cole, (right) all agreed the policy was a problem

Carer Angela Lilly, 76, suggested the pandemic was the catalyst for businesses deciding to stop trading physical money.

'Covid changed it,' she said.

Jackie Kilpatrick, 63, who was visiting Winchester from her hometown of Penzance, Cornwall, warned of the dangers of willingly accepting a cashless society.

'The possibilities of control of the population that comes with not having cash are frightening,' the artist said.

'Were there to be another pandemic, were you to go outside of your allocated location, they could shut down your availability to pay.

'It sounds very Big Brother.

'I think we are sleep walking into a society that can so easily be controlled.

'If we use cash, we are invisible, with cards we are traceable.

'We all assume the powers that be are benevolent, but they may not alway be.'

The perceived scandal comes after it was revealed almost half the population leave the house with only their phones as a means of payment.

An estimated 25 million Britons aged 16 and over - 45 per cent - do not take their wallets with them when heading out, relying solely on their digital wallets as a payment method, new research has revealed.

Millennials and Generation Z were found to be the most likely to leave their cards and wallets at home, with 66 per cent and 72 per cent respectively admitting to going out with just their phones.

Comparatively, only one in four baby boomers - 23 per cent - and one in 10 silent generation members - 11 per cent - said they would feel comfortable leaving the house with only a phone as a payment method, even if it was just for a short period of time.

Research late last year revealed that six in 10 free cash machines will likely disappear from our high streets by the end of the decade.

Michael Tresise, who was about to meet a friend at The Old Vine, said the new policy was 'a pain'.

'I almost got caught out there and I only wanted a coffee,' the 76 year old said.

'It's only a small amount of money so it does seem silly.

'In Sweden and other places in Europe they try to go cashless.

'It's a pain but that's the way things are going.'

Julia Palmer suggested once you've been caught out once, you 'don't go out without your credit card'

The Old Vine refused to comment when approached by MailOnline

He admitted he did use his card, but said he preferred to use it for a 'reasonable' amount of £20 or over.

'In a place like Winchester, it's a tourist centre,' he continued.

'And it's a bit silly really because people can get caught out.

'How many people would walk in there say 'I want a pint of bitter', have it poured, and then can't pay with cash.

'What do you do then? Pour it away?'

He also raised the issue of closing banks across the high street, providing limited availabilities of cash points to actually withdraw money, which may 'force' people to use their cards.

But local artist Julia Palmer, 66, suggested once you've been caught out once, you 'don't go out without your credit card'.

'I virtually never have cash on me,' she said.

'So for me, it's just not an issue, but I can see both sides of it.

'It's a big change, but for the people that work in these places, it's just much easier.

'They have enough problems trying to make a business.

'I just think we don't seem to have any teaching programmes for people who aren't savvy or don't do social media and anything online .

'They must be feeling more and more remote about what is going on.

'When computers first came out they used to to IT classes in schools.

'Now, they are just expecting people to lump it and get on with it which is tough for people who are phobic to using phones and technology.'

Staff at a nearby bakery which has been cashless for two years and said customers come in 'all the time' complaining about their policy - Ollie Withers (left) and Katy Davis (right)

Katy Davis, 23, and 20 year old Gracie Tollis work in a nearby bakery which has been cashless for two years and said customers come in 'all the time' complaining about their policy.

'We get quite a lot of abuse when you are front of house,' Ms Davis said.

'A lot of people say 'can we pay with cash' and it's difficult saying it's a company policy, done for security reasons.'

She revealed the main purpose was to not have cash on site and therefore lower the chances of any burglaries.

Ms Tollis said: 'They will sometimes stomp out.

'We get at least four complaints a day.'

Ollie Withers, 17, who also worked at the bakery, said he would have no problem with only being allowed to pay with his card.

'It's mainly just deal with the card you've been dealt,' he said.

'If they've got policies, you follow the policies as it's private property.'

The Old Vine refused to comment.