Tommy Robinson asked to leave a restaurant because staff felt uncomfortable serving him…

[harriethoyle]

… AIBU to enjoy this?!

If you spout objectionable views, don’t be surprised if people object to you!

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tommy-robinson-kicked-out-hawksmoor-london-b1231594.html

The restaurant didn't make this public. Tommy's mate did.

What evidence do you want? He’s a violent thug. I wouldn’t want h8m on my premises either, were I a business owner.

A racist dickhead who is sat next to his best mate who is Asian? Ok.

Or not serve people who believe humans can't change sex.

I don't agree with this. Unless he is causing trouble in the restaurant, or is rude to staff or customers, or has previously done so, I think they should have served him. Finding his politics objectionable politics is not a good reason - as others have said, what about ex-criminals, or people with a religion you don't agree with, or other political views?

Where has that happened?

Will they though? I don’t think old ten names has quite the level of support you think. And even if they do, more people are anti TTN than pro.

Why do you keep speaking on behalf of the establishment? Fortunately, whoever handled this situation, did so in a calm and reasoned manner.

How are they supposed to ban violent criminal racists they don’t know? Tommy is identifiable because he wants to be.

Looking at the example of the USA Reforms idea of free speech will be allowing it for those who agree with them.

i suppose it must be. I wonder if it's also therefore legal to refuse to serve someone because they are Muslim, or black, or you don't like how they vote, or their accent, or the fact that they are wearing a rainbow badge.

It's like Coutts cancelling Nigel Farage's bank account. All the people gloating and crowing over it, be careful what you wish for, is all I can say. It's only funny and clever when it's not happening to you or someone just like you. It's one step closer to living in the Handmaid's Tale.

Surely not the ‘one of my best friends is black’ defence in 2025? Woeful.

Eh?

Your wrong the odious little toad of a man has exactly the same right to service people as you or I do, as that's the way the law works

Yeah of course you have dear, from the BBC and Daily Mail no doubt!

The way the law works is that a business owner can refuse to serve anyone they like. There is no right to service. How do you think pub landlords manage to bar people?

And that right doesn’t override the right of a business to refuse to serve you for whatever reason they like (as long as it’s not because of a protected characteristic).

Once again for those who have trouble keeping up:

Religious views are a protected characteristic under the Equality Act and so you cannot bar someone for being a member of a religion you don't like. Being a violent, fraudster, coke-addled thug isn't a protected characteristic therefore the restaurant was free to refuse service to Yaxley Lennon.

Never read the Mail. I’m not your dear. Robinson nearly brought down a trial by stupid grandstanding. He posted lies about a teenager, admitted they were lies, and continues to pos them. He’s vile, a liar, a grifter and a violent thug.

If he was sitting minding his own business and behaving himself, my feeling is he should have been served. I feel for the restaurant potentially losing business if OTHER patrons decide to exit stage left on seeing him there.

But I'm uncomfortable with the idea of people being refused service just because staff don't happen to like their views. I hold some pretty strong GC views - should I asked be asked to leave a restaurant because of them (granted I'm not a public figure)? Should someone who holds TWAW views be asked to leave if the staff don't happen to agree?

They're there to serve food, not stand in judgement of someone's political views. If the staff felt he posed some sort of threat to their safety (which is possible given his record), that's a different matter.

I would rather stab myself in the eye with a spork and eat instant ramen forever than sit near that scumbag while I eat my very expensive dinner.

🤣😂😂🤣

Being black or a Muslim are protected characteristics.
For everything else, any business proprietor can decide who to serve. Or not serve.

Your [sic] wrong.

A place of business is free to choose who they do or do not wish to trade with, provided the reason is not because of a protected characteristic.

Wrong - again.

What?!!!! I think he would be very happy to agree that he is.