7:00am Saturday 11th October 2008
By Melanie Vass
A PUB has apologised to a blind man who was ordered to leave for wearing the wrong trousers.
Eddie Dancer was told his track suit bottoms had breached the pub’s “no sports trousers” policy and had to leave the beer garden in which he and friend Lorraine Way were enjoying an afternoon drink.
The couple’s visit to the Richmond Arms in Charminster was a rare outing for 50-year-old Mr Dancer, who rarely leaves the house since he suddenly went blind six years ago.
Mr Dancer, of Columbian Way, Slades Farm, said: “I was upset and surprised. I had a pair of tracksuit bottoms on but they were brand new – they weren’t tatty or dirty.
“I couldn’t believe it. I used to go in the Richmond Arms before I lost my sight and it’s just an ordinary local pub, not somewhere you would expect to dress up for.
“It was the first time I had been out for months and it has knocked my confidence. We were having a nice day and this completely ruined it.”
Friend Lorraine is equally upset and claims other drinkers were in the pub wearing shorts and work boots. She said Mr Dancer finds track suit trousers easier to wear because of the lack of belts and buttons.
“We were eating our chips when a girl came from nowhere and said they had a no sports trousers policy in the pub,” she said.
“I thought it was a joke at first, I thought she must have known Eddie and was having a laugh.
“But then we realised she was serious. She said we could finish our drinks and chips but we had to go after that.
“He felt embarrassed but I was furious. It has taken a whole team of carers and family and a great deal of support to encourage Eddie to get out of the house. All we wanted to do was sit in the sunshine.”
Mike O’Leary, manager for the Richmond Arms, said: “I want to apologise to Mr Dancer for this incident.
“We do have a dress code on tracksuits. However, it’s up to the manager’s discretion on how it is implemented. “It was an honest misunderstanding by one of our staff and will not happen again. Mr Dancer is welcome in the pub at any time.”
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