A man says he was evicted from a Wetherspoon pub before he could finish lunch and has been barred after asking staff why they were allowing able-bodied people to use the disabled toilet. Keith Rowe, 56, said he was "cornered" by staff who escorted him out of the building.
He said his late wife, would often use the facilities and find able-bodied people coming out of the toilets. Keith told CornwallLive: "Tan and me had problems in every Spoons we went and just getting shrugged shoulders is not good enough and totally unfair on those who actually need the disabled toilet and are being made to wait to use it."
While waiting for his lunch, Mr Rowe became frustrated watching seemingly able-bodied people coming and going from the disabled toilet without closing the door. He questioned a staff member on why it was being allowed.
Sometimes, disabled toilets remain locked and can be accessed by a Radar key - or disabled key - holder. These are easy to get hold of and many disabled people will have access to one.
"A member of staff went in there to check the toilet and did not shut the door thus rendering it open as a free-use toilet so I got up and asked why she did not lock the door. The next thing, hell up.
"The manager came over accusing me of swearing and said that I was being abusive in front of families. I asked her what is the point of having a Radar key when you leave it open."
He continued: "I then lost my cool with her after my words fell on deaf ears and she ordered me out of the place in full view of ogling rubberneckers and also said I am not welcome here again, so I did not even get the chance to finish my dinner and coffee."
He said: "I was ganged upon by two of three servers and made to feel like a rat trapped in the corner.
"It wasn't nice but what has really made me mad is the lack of enforcing the disabled toilet policy. I sincerely hope that something can be actioned over Wetherspoons' inability to provide secure and safe disabled toilet access for people who need it."
A Wetherspoon spokesperson told Mr Rowe: "The manager has advised that they do not wish you to return to the pub due to your aggressive behaviour.
"The manager is responsible for the pub and its licence and whilst we appreciate that you are not happy with the decision we will not be overturning it. Pubs are private premises and not public places.
"They are open to the public solely at the discretion of the licence holder and, more specifically, the person managing the premises. When a person enters a pub they do so because the licence holder has allowed that person into the pub. The manager is therefore legally entitled to decide who is allowed to enter their premises and who is not.
"In view of the above we consider this matter closed and will not be entering into any further communication regarding this issue." It later confirmed it would refund the £9.25 to Mr Rowe for the lunch he could not eat.
A spokesperson for J D Wetherspoon said: “Mr Rowe questioned staff as to use of the accessible toilet at the pub. They would have been glad to deal with his query but it was made in a manner which the employees concerned felt was unnecessarily confrontational. Accordingly he was rightly asked to leave the pub.
"There are many disabilities which are not obvious. Our employees are not entitled to ask customers to explain why they might wish to use our pub's accessible toilets or insist they use a Radar key."
