Greene King pays damages after Irish Travellers refused service at pub

Pub chain Greene King has paid “substantial” damages after admitting 12 people were removed from one of its venues for being Irish Travellers.

The customers had visited the Rose and Crown pub in Woodford Green, Essex on 23 April to watch the WBC heavyweight title fight between Dillian Whyte and “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury.

However, the first six people who arrived were asked to leave and the others were told to turn around because they would not be served due to their race.

The customers, who have remained anonymous, made a claim of unlawful direct racial discrimination contrary to the Equality Act 2010 through law firm Howe + Co.

Howe + Co said the group were told by the pub’s manager: “No Travellers.”

Greene King has apologised and settled the claims out of court.

The pub chain said in a statement: “This behaviour is in contrary to all that we at Greene King believe in. We have a commitment to 'calling time on racism' and we are working hard across our business to make sure that we all consistently live up to these commitments and values.

“We have apologised unreservedly to the 12 individuals involved in this incident paid them compensation as well as their legal costs and have made a charitable donation to the Traveller Movement at their request.”

The firm said it had given the pub’s staff further training following the incident.

However, the customer group's lawyer Martin Howe said it was not enough for the company to issue statements “calling time on racism” if staff continued to discriminate against racial or ethnic groups.

“Discrimination against Irish Travellers remains only too prevalent and is regarded by some as the last bastion of acceptable racism,” said Howe.

“Until these ugly unacceptable instances of blatant racism against Travellers are stopped, significant settlements like this will continue to the shame companies who engage in racist conduct.”

Yvonne MacNamara, chief executive of the Traveller Movement said the charity would continue to act as a “critical friend” to Greene King.

She added: “It is important to note this case is not an outlier; racism against Irish Travellers is rife in our society. We hope and expect that that this outcome will serve as a warning to other companies, and that Greene King’s future conduct will serve as an example of inclusivity and progress.”

In May Britain’s equality watchdog launched an investigation into Pontins holiday parks, a subsidiary of Britannia Hotels, over concerns of continued discrimination against Gypsy and Traveller families.

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