I never wear shoes or socks and have run 50 marathons with no trainers – but McDonald’s asked me to leave even though there were kids in the play area with bare feet
- James Graham, 55, from Sussex, leads a barefoot lifestyle and ran 20 marathons
- He was asked to leave McDonalds in Bexhill as he was barefoot in the premises
- Read More: Vegan personal trainer reveals the surprising health benefits of going BAREFOOT – from ‘curing’ stiffness to improving posture
A man who leads a barefoot lifestyle was asked to leave a branch of McDonalds after ordering his food.
James Graham, 55, was in McDonald’s in Ravenside Retail Park in Bexhill, Sussex, when he says he was told to leave the premises shortly after sitting down once he had ordered.
He revealed a service person approached him and said ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’.
Explaining he said: ‘I went to McDonald’s in Ravenside and ordered my food. Minding my own business, I just sat down waiting for the table service when one of the service people came up and said that I could not be in there without shoes on.
‘I questioned her about this and she said the words. “No shoes, no shirt, no service”, to which I told her that this was an old saying from hippie times in the US, used to restrict people from going into places.
James Graham, 55, from Sussex, who leads a barefoot lifestyle was asked to leave a branch of McDonalds after ordering his food
‘But she was having none of it. She went to get the manager, who said I may cut myself.’
He said he thought the incident was a ‘bit silly’ as he added he was sitting right next to a play area, which James said was often full of barefooted children playing.
He said: ‘I spoke to head office and emailed them. They said it was down to the franchise manager of that site.
‘I think it’s strange to make these decisions in a split second when I’m doing no harm to anyone.
‘In 2013 I had a life-changing experience. My wife passed and since then I have just been living life. Life is too short to not do things you think you might want to do.’
James said he has run 20 marathons in his bare feet. He ran the Eastbourne Half Marathon last Sunday and is planning to run the London Marathon this year in his bare feet.
James was in McDonald’s in Ravenside Retail Park in Bexhill, Sussex, when he says he was told to leave the premises shortly after sitting down once he had ordered
James said he has run 20 marathons in his bare feet. He ran the Eastbourne Half Marathon last Sunday and is planning to run the London Marathon this year in his bare feet
James said he had a life-changing experience in 2013, when his wife passed and since then he’s been living life how he wants to, saying ‘life is too short’
What is the barefoot movement and can ditching shoes really benefit your health?
The practice has been advocated by respected academics, such as Professor of Biology at Liberty University L. Daniel Howell, who has even written a book on the subject.
He argues that rejecting shoes can correct misalignments, increase foot strength and flexibility and prevent fungal infections.
Professor Howell is a member of the Society For Barefoot Living, established in the US in 1994, which has a mission to educate people on the benefits of going barefoot, support people who have made this life choice and educate others.
Other prominent members include endurance athlete and adventurer Ted McDonald; renowned barefoot hiker Richard Frazine; runner Ken Saxton who has completed 79 marathons bare foot and Tom Perry, ‘the Barefoot Climber’ who has scaled Vesuvius and Kilimanjaro shoeless.
He added his barefoot lifestyle has had mixed reactions from the public.
James said: ‘Some are completely horrified and don’t understand it. Other people fully support it and say they wish they had the courage and freedom to do it.’
A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: ‘At McDonald’s we want to create a welcoming environment for all our customers to enjoy their experience.
‘The Bexhill team informed the customer that for his own safety and for the comfort of other diners all customers are asked to wear footwear in the restaurant.
‘When he refused, the customer was allowed to remain on this occasion and finish his food before leaving.’
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