Bar apologises after customers described as ‘gay guys' on receipt

A bar has been forced to apologise to two customers who were given a receipt describing them as "gay guys".

Al Butler and his friend, both 26, were handed the receipt after their lunch at Judson's Bar in Pocklington, North Yorkshire.

A waitress had written "gay guys…stools" on it to help fellow staff identify where they were sitting.

Butler and his friend, both of whom are actually straight, complained after spotting the words on the receipt and Butler was reported in the Daily Mail as being angered by the treatment, which he called as "unacceptable as racism".

Butler told the paper: "My friend spotted it first and said ‘I think the manager's misconstrued our lunch.'

"I obviously thought it was inappropriate. It took a while for it sink in. It was not insulting, it was just a shock.

"I was surprised. I would not expect it anywhere else. It's as equally unacceptable as racism.

"It's not a bad thing to be called gay - although I'm not and neither is my friend - but I think it's prejudiced. It's jumping to a conclusion without the need to do so."

Bar owner Peter Ward said: "We have apologised unreservedly. While it was completely wrong, I don't feel it was prejudiced.

"It was completely unprofessional and it is not what our business is about.

"We understand why the two gentlemen concerned were offended and we have apologised to them unreservedly.

"We have also disciplined the waitress concerned and put in place a procedure so it will not happen again. I would add that everyone is welcome at Judson's."