Wetherspoons issues an apology following an incident where a blind man and his family were asked to leave their local pub because of his guide dog.
Tom Gray, along with his family, visited the Palladium Electric Wetherspoons on March 8 to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Despite placing their food order, a staff member approached them and requested them to vacate the premises.
The staff member informed them that guide dogs must have accreditation, contrary to the establishment’s policy which only requires it for assistance dogs. According to the Equality Act 2010, businesses are obligated to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled individuals.
Wetherspoon’s internal policy permits trained guide dogs and accredited assistance dogs in their pubs. Tom insisted on a refund of the £70 they had spent after being told they could only take their food as takeout.
Tom, who is visually impaired, attempted to resolve the situation by offering to contact The Guide Dogs to verify his dog’s training. However, the staff member declined and insisted they leave, escorting Tom out of the building.
After media intervention, Wetherspoons issued an apology and refunded Tom for the incident. Tom expressed disappointment and stated that he will not be returning to Wetherspoons in the near future.
Tom shared his frustration over the treatment he received, emphasizing that he had never encountered such discrimination before. Despite previous visits without any issues, he declared his reluctance to revisit the establishment due to the unpleasant experience.
A Wetherspoons spokesperson clarified their policy of welcoming guide dogs and accredited assistance dogs without the need for proof or training details. They extended an apology to Tom, offering to address his concerns directly through their customer services team.
