Two men have spoken of their shock and anger after they were asked to leave a bar in London after a member of staff apparently objected to them kissing.

Jonathan Williams, a journalist for a financial trade magazine, and James Bull, a charity volunteer, say they were ejected from the John Snow on Broadwick Street, Soho, by a woman who claimed to be the landlady and said they were being "obscene".

Bull said he was physically sick after the incident, which happened at about 10.45pm on Wednesday, after the couple had earlier been for dinner on their first date together in Covent Garden.

Bull said: "I felt so belittled, and to be made to feel so dirty and cheap over something like that – it's just wrong."

The pair say that objections were first raised to their displays of affection shortly after they arrived at 8.30pm by a fellow drinker claiming to be the landlord, who was off duty. They refused what they described as his "polite request" to stop kissing. Williams, 26, and Bull, 23, insist they were not indulging in a "huge display of affection", but were merely kissing on the lips.

They said they chose the John Snow, operated by the Samuel Smith brewery, because they enjoyed the cider sold at the venue. The pub is near the heart of London's "gay village", but does not style itself as a gay bar.

Williams said: "It's a nice little pub, it's a nice atmosphere. The people are friendly, it's not too expensive considering the area and it's a decent pub where you can just relax."

He said the first man, who identified himself as the landlord, asked them to stop kissing "because it was bothering him". The couple refused and were left alone until about 10.45pm, when a woman who said she was the landlady intervened.

Bull said he was putting on his coat to leave and had given Williams "a peck on the lips" when the woman, who was wearing a staff uniform, came up to them.

"She said we had to leave because we were being obscene. Then the other guy from earlier came over again and said we had to leave now, we 'weren't allowed to do that'."

Both Bull and Williams said the man took hold of Williams's coat lapels as he asked them to leave the pub. Bull called the police when he arrived home, who came and took a statement. Bar staff have the right to eject drinkers, but they must abide by equality legislation. It is not clear what further action the police intend to take.

Lucy Clements, a 27-year-old production manager, and Jamie Morton, neither of whom know Bull or Williams, were sitting at the next table and witnessed the events. They were also asked to leave after questioning the couple's ejection.

Clements said: "I was totally shocked. Dumbfounded really. From a pub in the middle of Soho you just don't expect it."

She said Bull and Williams were "snogging, but it wasn't heavy petting", adding that "no one seemed to mind apart from this one man". She said she spoke to bar staff who confirmed the man who raised the first objections was the landlord.

The John Snow is one of about 300 pubs in the UK operated by the independent brewery, Samuel Smith. Bull and Williams said they had not yet complained to the company, but planned to do so later.

When the Guardian called the pub, a woman initially put the phone down. On a second call, she said: "Can you just stop calling this number please, or we'll have you done for harassment."

Williams said: "We weren't being over the top, there wasn't anything that would be deemed unseemly – I'm not the kind of person to do that kind of thing in public.

"I was very angry. I've been incredibly lucky and never had to experience much in the way of homophobic bullying, a few minor incidents at school aside.

"So considering that's the extent of it, I mostly felt anger and shock. The upset wore off pretty quickly and the anger remained."

Williams turned to Twitter to complain about the ordeal. "Seven years in London & I've never been made to feel bad for being gay. 45 min ago the John Snow pub, W1F had me removed for kissing a date."

His post was retweeted dozens of times, while several high-profile tweeters, including Goodness Gracious Me and The Smoking Room actor Emma Kennedy, helped to raise awareness of the incident.

"The John Snow pub is in SOHO. Way to alienate your passing trade fellahs. Well done. *never, ever goes there again*," Kennedy wrote.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan police said: "Police are investigating an incident which occurred at approximately 10.50pm last night at a venue in Broadwick Street, W1. There have been no arrests and inquiries are ongoing."