JDW apologises for wrongly ejecting disabled customer

Bedfordshire on Sunday​ newspaper reported doorstaff at the pub chain ordered wheelchair-bound John Geraghty to leave after his body slumped forward because of his lack of muscle control.

Geraghty’s carer tried to explain to staff at the Bright Helm in Brighton that his condition meant he could not control his movements, but was waved aside, according to reports.

However, JDW has said retraining of staff at the Brighton pub will take place as a result of the incident.

Refused entry

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We apologise to Mr Geraghty and also to his carer.

“Door staff at the pub genuinely believed he was intoxicated and for that reason, refused him entry.

“However, we appreciate that was not the case and that the decision rightly upset Mr Geraghty.

“We will be retraining our staff at the Bright Helm on this issue and also making staff at our other 900 plus pubs across the UK, better aware of MS so this situation does not arise again.”

Dress code ban

In August last year a new JDW pub in Chatham, Kent, was slammed on social media​ for asking customers wearing tracksuit bottoms and hats to leave.

The pub group backed the manager’s decision to ban the types of clothing and states on its website that customers are requested to remain fully clothed, including shoes.

It added: “In addition, some pubs do operate a specific dress code at all or certain times.”