Denied access to bars

[Ben123]

Ages since I've posted here, and hope I've got this in the right section....I'm really just after a bit of a advice following an incident a few weeks ago, which is still really bugging me.

I got denied access to a very popular/common bar (I think it's best if I don't actually name them!) because I was 'limping'...which the bouncer felt was due to alcohol!!! (At this point I'd have no alcohol in the slightest).

After explaining to him, along with a friend I was with, and showing him a document that I always carry on me regarding/explaining HMS - he still refused me access and instead said "well we'd rather not have your sort in here anyway"! I was livid as you can imagine but realised I wasn't going to get anywhere and walked away.

Has a similar thing ever happened to anybody else? How did you deal with it? And is there anything you guys can recommended to prevent the same thing from happening again in the future? I'm still in two minds as to whether or not to contact the chain themselves and report this bouncer or leave the matter to rest.

Any help or advise I would be very greatful!

[Itigo]

Hiya

It has never happened to me but I was in a pub the other week and I heard about a similar story. My friends had been in a different bar prior to meeting us and we saw a guy walk into the pub on his own. To my mind it was obvious he had cerebral palsy. He was chatty with the bar staff and just had some hand and face spasms. My friends said that he had just been thrown out of the other bar by the bouncers for being drunk. It was about 9:30pm and he really didn't seem drunk, just out having a drink by himself. I felt outraged on his behalf!

Just thought I'd let you know it happens. Outraged on both your behalves! I would go back and complain to the management but that's just me and I don't know how I'd react if it did ever happen to me personally.......

Hugs

Itigo x

[dragondee]

definately complain!

Dragondee

[Finarda]

I would absolutely complain. Write a letter to them or call them. I'm not sure what else you could do other than what you did - show him the card about HMS. The only other thing I can think of is to let him know that it's illegal to ban someone because of a disability and that you could take his bar to court or at least report them (not sure who to though!)

Fiona

[Stone]

Ugh, how disgusting of them

They could probably wiggle out of it up until the point where you showed them a card and said 'this is because of my disability' - before then they can be using their discretion to refuse you entry to their private property.

If they did offer you free stuff, would you want to take it up knowing that was their attitude?

Stone

[ladybirdscot]

Definitely name and shame!!! How dare they???


You have every right to be wherever you want to be because you are..........a member of the public!!!!!!

I am horrified!

That is totally against the law (Ithink). Go back to the same place, have the same conversation and then demand to speak to the manager. Ask the manager, in a casual manner, 'I didn't realise this place discriminated against disabled people, maybe you should put a sign up saying so. Can I have your name for the newspaper article please?'

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!

[Rosie]

Hi all

well we'd rather not have your sort in here anyway

I would request to see the manager and tell him about this comment. He/she may be unaware that a member of staff behaves like this. This comment is definitely discriminatoryu and he needs to be told.
As far as not letting you in, how about contacting them and asking what they suggest you do next time - that way you are putting the problrm back on them. You could also mention the word discimination at the same time, but say that you understand that bouncers have a job to do and they are not all well enough informed to be able to tell the difference between someone who is limping because they are drunk, and someone who is limping because they have a disabling condition.
If speaking to the managemebt doesn't get you anywhere, then you could take it further.



Rosie

[Ben123]

Ugh, how disgusting of them

They could probably wiggle out of it up until the point where you showed them a card and said 'this is because of my disability' - before then they can be using their discretion to refuse you entry to their private property.

If they did offer you free stuff, would you want to take it up knowing that was their attitude?

Stone

Cheers for all the replies guys...much appreciated.

Regarding the above - totally agree with point 1, basically if I hadn't have had my information sheet with me it was his word against mine, but it was the comment of 'well we'd rather not have your sort in here anyway' that followed, that's angered me.

I have contacted their head office and asked for a) an explanation and b) an apology. I'm not really interested in free stuff or anything for personal gain to be honest.

More I think about it though, the more determined I am to get it resolved to hopefully get the guy to think twice if he was to ever try it with somebody else.

I'll keep you updated though - and thanks again!:)

[sambrook7]

"well we'd rather not have your sort in here anyway"!

I want to know what he/she thinks "our sort" is! I am disgusted at this!!! How dare they, I bet they wouldn't dare say something like that to someone in a wheelchair, because they know they'd have a lawsuit on their hands. I personally limp alot due to HMS and HMS also prevents me from going out and about especially in the evening. If on my one off night i actually went out and someone had the cheek to say that to me i'd make a massive deal out of it, the bouncer would have got a piece of my mind. I'd contact newspapers and everything. Sorry but this has made me quite angry, we have enough to deal with having this condition and the limitations we have, without a complete stranger being rude and disrespectful. I'd sue the company for discrimination.

[joannamalia]

Hi yes it has happened to me 3 times in total. First time was going onto a boat bar - had to walk down a rather slippy gang plank which I held onto the railings and stumbled slightly (no fall), the 2 friends I was with were drunk and I was the "sensible" one - the bouncer refused to let me in but said they could go in - none of us went in and we all went elsewhere! Second time was going into a bar in my local town to get there you have to go down many stairs, I was holding on to the rail and watching my feet as I normally do on stairs, again I stumbled very slightly, the bouncer very rudely and loudly said to me when I reached the bar "You're not coming in you're drunk", I explained to him that I was not drunk and that I had a condition which meant I was unsteady on stairs, he was very nasty to me and seemed to be enjoying making a fool of me in front of everyone else waiting to get in. Eventually I did say "Are you saying I can't come in becasue I'm disabled" and demanded to see the manager - the manager came and after a long embarassing discussion in front of lots of people where he asked if I had any documentation to prove what I was saying let me in. The bouncer, however, refused to apologise to me and said "he was doing his job", I was very upset after this. The third tiem I was going down the same set of steps to a different bar, holding on and watching my feet, I didn't stumble but the bouncer said I couldn't go in because I'd had too much to drink (quietly)- my friend and I explained that I had a condition and couldn't help it and he immediately apologised and let me in.
These experiences upset me greatly and put me off going out. I very rarely go out now and only do it if I feel I really have to - I now have the HMSA memebership card which I always carry with me just in case, but because I don't go out now it has never happened since. I don't know a way round it and wondered if bouncers had to go on equality and diversity courses. Anyway hope this doesn't happen to you again or you get put off going out like me.

[persephone]

I'd take this as far as I could- Disability Rights Commission, or Equality and Human Rights Commission as they're known now.

I had something a bit more subtle but related to what you're saying: my landlord tried increasing my rent (and only mine- no one elses) by £120 a month because my disability was 'inconvenient and costly' to them- the only thing I'd cost them was about 5 quid for a lever handle to replace a door knob! Ridiculous!

Anyway, I decided I wasn't having it- I KNEW it was tantamount to discrimination. So, I got intouch with the EHRC who said I was right,and helped me draft a letter.

Needless to say, my rent magically lowered itself again within 48 hours of receipt of the letter!!!

Never, ever accept this sort of treatment. It is outrageous! I hope you got an apology from them and a promise that this wouldn't happen again!

[AnnaH]

These cases are blatant disability discrimination and you should at the very least ask to complain to the manager and mention the words "Disability Discrimination Act" to them, so they know it's not just bad customer relations, it's actually illegal!

I have a friend with cerebral palsy who shakes and struggles to walk. He has had quite a few problems, including a time he fell over and couldn't get back up, so the police arrested him for being drunk and disorderly! He complains, in writing, every time something like this happens and doesn't give up. He feels that in order for things to change for disabled people we need to be much more vociferous and complain a lot more.

Complain not just for yourself, but for other mobility-impaired people who these business might discriminate against. Personally, if a bouncer did that to me, I'd ask for his name, the managers name and make sure they never forgot the encounter.

[persephone]

Wahey Anna, a woman after my own heart. My mantra is, better to light a candle than moan about the dark. Your mate with CP is d**n RIGHT

[pretzel]

Just thought I'd post this link, relates directly to what is being discussed, scroll down to page 26/27

http://www.equalities.gov.uk/pdf/GEO%20 ... ERSION.pdf

[SullyMerthyr]

Hi guys - I am so angry reading all these stories!!! A similar thing happened to me last summer at a concert, I had a ticket which clearly stated 'disabled' yet even after showing it to the steward in the disabled seating area she asked me " and what is supposed to be the matter with you?" I admit I had had a couple of drinks and replied quite flippantly "would you like me to remove my clothes and show you my scars and swollen joints?" Needless to say, she then let me stay! I wrote to the venue following the event and they were most apologetic, stating that they would implement refresher training for disability awareness for all staff in that section of the venue. I also received free tickets for another event - an unexpected bonus! Its the same when I park in a disabled parking bay - you can guarantee someone walking past will inspect my blue badge and watch me getting out of the car to see if I fit their stereotype of what a disabled person looks like. GRRRRRRR!!!!