The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton

really? name some.

10 Nov 2010 16:44

Rhu Bar, Basingstoke

The person runs this place is a moron. Below is an article from the Basingstoke Observer:

A Basingstoke bar owner has defended his amazing decision to ban disabled customers from his venue in the evening after instructing bouncers to turn away anyone on crutches or in a wheelchair. Rhu Bar boss Rob Bates says the disabled are not welcome in his venue on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights after 8pm, because he doesn�t have the facilities to cater for them � and his regulars can�t have a 'groove' with a wheelchair in the way.

Observer reader Cliff Oxlade and a group of his friends fell foul of the Rhu Bar�s new policy on Friday, March 1. Cliff�s partner, who was temporarily using crutches after knee surgery, was barred from the venue by a bouncer with the words �no crutches.� Cliff said: �When challenged he simply advised that he had been advised that �no crutches are allowed� and refused to give any further explanation. At the time we were all very angry at the abruptness and the lack of any explanation from the bouncer, but I guess they�re not employed for their customer service skills. All four of us have vowed not to return to the Rhu Bar and many other friends have also expressed their dismay at the Rhu Bar�s attitude.�

To find out for myself if the ban was real, I borrowed a pair of crutches and a Medi fixed walker to give me an authentic �broken ankle� and hobbled my way up to the popular music venue on London Road. But despite pleading my case, the bouncer on the door told me firmly: �sorry pal � no crutches. It�s the manager�s discretion and he won�t let you in.�

According to Rob Bates, he isn�t discriminating against the disabled because he wants to - he just has no choice. The Rhu Bar boss claims his nightspot is too small, too old and on too many levels to be modified to be disabled-friendly. �Why would somebody in a wheelchair want to come into my bar when it�s a dance bar, a groove bar?� he said. �When I built this business I did not have to cater for disabled people because they weren�t coming out, and they don�t come out much now. My business is my regulars who have supported me for the last seven years, not the disabled society. They are not paying my bills, they come in and have one orange juice. My regulars want to have a groove and they can�t with a wheelchair in the way.�

29 Mar 2007 09:17

Ye Olde Leathern Bottle, Wokingham

Now has FIVE ales on the go, including two guests. Good stuff

Soft rock classics of the 80's on the speakers puts me off a bit though!

26 Mar 2007 15:18