Shoppers in Halloween costumes kicked out of Bluewater Shopping Center for not being ‘appropriately dressed’

Two costumed friends who went to Bluewater intending to have some ‘light-hearted fun’ say they had to leave because they weren’t dressed ‘appropriately’.

Comedy actors Chris Cole and Paul Fox claim eight security officers quickly halted their shopping trip and forced them to leave the building Groenhithe mall when they showed up in devil and vampire attire.

But the mall has backtracked on the pair’s claims, saying instead that the men were “escorted” from the premises because their behavior was “not in accordance with the guest code of conduct”.

Police were also called after reports that they were “causing concern to the public” and provided the pair with “advice”.

However, the comedy duo dated Gravesendsaying they only dressed in their self-created characters, Deville and Nostrils, in an attempt to provide some light-hearted fun on Saturday night.

Chris, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, said: “We are entertainer-actors, we are not out to scare people – it is a matter of interaction.”

The friends planned to go to City Wall Wine Bar Rochester to raise money for charity that evening.

But they decided to make an earlier stop at Bluewater and went to do some shopping around 4pm, after claiming to have alerted a police control room the day before.

The 57-year-old added: “Although we look very scary, children really love us because now children are not afraid of Halloween anymore.

“Halloween is a big thing, they all go out and dress up, so it’s quite normal to see two others looking terrible.”

But shortly after they parked and entered M&S, they were approached by shopping center security guards, who began questioning them and later followed them around the store.

“We didn’t get far and then they stopped us and said, ‘You have to leave,’” Chris said.

Footage filmed by the pair at the scene shows an officer telling them that his “control room didn’t really consider it suitable” for the “family shopping centre”.

The security guard is questioned by the duo about what the “problem” is, to which he replies “there isn’t one” before calmly relaying the first instruction from his bosses that they need to leave.

But Chris added: “If it was dark, low light and we were jumping out from behind columns I would understand, but we had only been in their minutes.”

He says he and Paul didn’t interact with shoppers unless they approached them first and don’t scare children, but perhaps perform for the older folks.

“Nostrils (Paul) with his Transylvanian accent comes across as a bit goofy and funny, but he is very polite and friendly,” he explained.

“While I, as a devil, am more mischievous and therefore always say to the children: ‘Is your room tidy?’ and they say ‘yes’ and then I say ‘well, that’s not good, it must be sloppy!’

But best of all, Mr. Jobsworth said, “We can’t have you here, you’re scaring the kids,” and at that moment two little girls pulled on my coat and said, “Happy Halloween,” and it couldn’t have happened. at a better time – the kids all did that.”

The pair said their comedy is meant to give people some light-hearted fun and hope to continue playing characters in the future.

Police confirmed their presence on Saturday (November 2) around 4pm.

A police spokeswoman said: “Kent Police were called to a report of two people dressed in Halloween outfits causing concern to the public in Bluewater, Greenhithe.

“Officers attended and spoke to the two individuals and advised them.”

A spokesperson for the shopping center said: “On Saturday, two guests were escorted from Bluewater by Kent Police and our security team because their behavior did not comply with our code of conduct for guests visiting the centre.”