The group fell foul of a barman weary of potential "high jinks" from groups of men on stag dos or wearing fancy dress. Photo / Twitter
By Andy Dolan
Seven trainee priests walk into a bar - and were asked to leave because staff thought they were on a stag do.
It may sound like the opening line of a corny joke, but the comical incident actually took place at the weekend after the seminarians went out to celebrate a colleague's ordination.
The holy men had gone in to The City Arms in Cardiff city centre - where pints include local brew Rev James - on Saturday.
But the group, who included Reverend Robert James, fell foul of a barman weary of potential 'high jinks' from groups of men on stag dos or wearing fancy dress.
Father Michael Doyle, a friend of the party who studied alongside them until his own recent ordination, said: 'On arrival, the bartender informed them that it was policy not to grant entry to fancy dress parties or stag "dos".
"The seminarians thought that this was a joke until it became clear that this was not the case and he was in fact serious."
He said the group 'insisted to no avail that they were students for the priesthood', with two having recently been ordained as deacons.
But as they headed out of the door, an assistant manager approached to double-check their credentials.
In a statement released through Bridgend-based Fr Doyle, the trainee priests added: 'The gentlemen, who we assumed to be the manager, reassured us that he did accept who we claimed to be and subsequently invited us back in.
"By way of apology, he then very graciously provided us with a round of drinks, at which point the group decided to stay, provoking an outburst of applause from the locals casually enjoying a pint."
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