Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the landlord of the pub in Soho was within his rights to ask the couple to leave?

223 replies

CUKAmbassador · 16/04/2011 14:39

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13103647

We've all seen the story. It seems to me that it's completely blown out of all proportion in exactly the same way that the couple with the B&B did not want gay couples staying under their roof.

If you were sat in a pub/restaurant and a heterosexual couple started getting steamed up, kissing passionately, hands all over each other, you'd be like 'Get a room' or 'take it outside'. I personally would move to another seat, I don't want to see it, straight or gay.

I think you should be allowed to ask people to move/leave for whatever reason if there is no prejudice and think this is another classic example of bleeding heart lefties using tactics to make the majority feel like the minority.

AIBU?

OP posts:
nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 14:41

[[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13103647
link for those who can't be arsed to c+p]]

everybodysang · 16/04/2011 14:42

Yep.

It's a couple on a second date having a little snog on a second date. Big deal.

nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 14:42

hmm. that doesn't work....

nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 14:42

does this one?

nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 14:44

have to say, I was heartened by the response of the public.
that was sweet

vj32 · 16/04/2011 14:44

The witness said they weren't all over each other though - they were just kissing. And it is against the law to refuse service on the basis of race, gender or sexuality. So no, I don't think its blown out of proportion. However, obviously I wasn't there.
The case of the B&B wasn't blown out of proportion either - a judge said what the couple were doing was illegal.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 16/04/2011 14:45

The straight couple, who were also asked to leave when they protested about the gay couple being kicked out, said that the gay couple were not hands all over each other. They were kissing.

And you're a troll.

Bringonthegoat · 16/04/2011 14:46

He was within his rights to ask them to leave and I would hope that any couple being overtly sexual in a pub would be tackled as I don't want to sit next to anyone getting it on. BUT if they just had a little kiss - a 'ooh nice date' peck it is OTT to ask them to leave and probably because it was a homo not hetro couple. That is where it rankles with me. Landlord can refuse service just cos he doesn't like the cut of your jib but in this day 'n age many will object to prejudice.

LadyOfTheManor · 16/04/2011 14:48

My dh occasionally does security work for friends who own bars. His badge states (security badge) that he is entitled to ask anyone to leave for any reason-in fact according to law he doesn't have to give a reason...my point being the Landlord is well within his rights to ask anyone to leave his premises at any time. If they had been black they would have been calling him a racist and not a homophobe.

Original poster
CUKAmbassador · 16/04/2011 14:49

ELNP. Why is this a troll post?

I agree with the poster below you. If it's a kiss on the cheek and a little peck, so what, but if it's the type of hollywood moment you sometimes see in the darkened corners of a nightclub then absolutely correct.

I suppose we'll have to see if the landlord has acted illegally, but if not I'll accept your apology.

OP posts:
GwendolineMaryLacey · 16/04/2011 14:50

Agree, I don't want to be sat next to snogging either, don't care what combination of genders they are. But a restrained kiss is no problem.

Shakirasma · 16/04/2011 14:52

Lady of the manor, your DH would NOT be entitled to ask anybody to leave purely because they are gay, black or whatever because that is illegal.

He may not have to give a reason but he must have just cause. The LL in this case is out of order unless the couple were being particularly OTT

dearyme · 16/04/2011 14:53

of course he was

and of course its no co-incidence that the gays are both journos

hmmmmmmmmm cynical moi?

MegBusset · 16/04/2011 14:54

This is a pub in Soho ffs (used to be a very nice pub, years ago). Complete commercial suicide to be kicking out a gay couple for kissing.

melpomene · 16/04/2011 14:54

OKay then, how many heterosexuals have been thrown out of that pub for kissing? It's not exactly uncommon for heterosexual couples to have a kiss in a pub, but I haven't seen any reports of heterosexuals being thrown out.

MegBusset · 16/04/2011 14:55

"the gays"

Christ...

squeakytoy · 16/04/2011 14:55

I am sure there is a lot lot more to this than has been reported.

Soho is home to Londons biggest gay community and is the least homophobic place in the city.

HazeltheMcWitch · 16/04/2011 14:58

dearyme, it is a pub that is frequented by LOADS of journos and media types, so nope - not that suspicious I think.

According to bystanders, the gay couple were not 'all over' each other, and were indeed singled out because they were gay. So absolutely not ok. This IS discrimination (as a hetero couple would not be treated in the same way).

MillyR · 16/04/2011 14:58

It is illegal to ask someone to leave on the grounds on disability, gender, race, or sexual orientation.

Very worrying that some people don't realise that this applies in their workplaces.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 16/04/2011 14:59

You're not a troll?

gordyslovesheep · 16/04/2011 14:59

pmsl @ 'the gays' really????? am I in a time warp?

anyway my sister is a qualified and highly sought after door manager and no way would she be allowed to ask people to leave on the grounds of their race, sexuality etc - nope not at all

it's SOHO and I am a bit shocked at anyone running a pub in Soho and being upperty about gay men - but if they where having a nice kiss, hands on the table then YES he was being a twat :)

LadyOfTheManor · 16/04/2011 15:01

However you can ask someone to leave without giving a reason. Perhaps he didn't like their shoes, or perhaps he thought it was the wrong tone, perhaps one of them were wearing the same shirt as the Landlord.

He doesn't have to give a reason, he can kick them out of his premises as many times as he likes. Also massive coincidence that they are journos.Hmm

jellybeansontoast · 16/04/2011 15:02

YABU.

But may I draw your attention to this Grin

GastonTheLadybird · 16/04/2011 15:03

I had my second date with DP in that pub and there was an awful lot of snogging happening, we weren't kicked out. If you're going to have a blanket no kissing rule then it needs to a) say it somewhere and b) apply to everyone.

The pub is being v unreasonable and sounds like the whole incident was handled very badly.

MillyR · 16/04/2011 15:04

They were given a reason though. They were told they were being obscene.

Even if a reason was not given, if a landlord or security went around asking people to leave and discrimination could be implied (such as a gay couple who had just kissed, or security only asked women or disabled people to leave) then of course they could be found to be breaking the law, even without having given a reason.