'Too old' customer considers legal action against pub

A Brighton businessman is considering legal action after a pub turned him away for being too old.

John Deverall said he thought the doorstaff at the Polar Bar in Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, was joking when they said: "Sorry you are too old. We are trying to cater for a younger, trendier crowd."

Mr Deverall's 28-year-old son was also refused entry because he was not dressed fashionably.

Fifty-four-year-old Mr Deverall was allowed to go into the pub to explain to his colleagues what had happened and the whole party left when he told them he was barred because of his age.

Now he is checking the licensing conditions of the bar, which is owned by Brighton-based C-Side pub company, to see where he stands legally.

Mr Deverall told the Brighton Evening Argus: "At first I thought it was a wind-up by members of my staff. But when I realised the doorman was being deadly serious, I was furious. I was let in to meet my staff on the grounds I did not cause any trouble. I have never caused any trouble in a pub and I have never been turned away from a pub for being too old or any other reason. It is disgraceful the pub should discriminate in this way."

The manager of the pub, who would only give his name as Chris, said: "C-Side is a successful pub chain which does not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of age, sex or for any other reason.

"As a manager I have a right to tell my doorstaff to refuse entry to anyone I do not think is suitable to come into my pub. We had a very good reason to refuse this man at that busy time of the evening. I am glad I did because I was abused and sworn at by some of the people he was with."