JDW pub refuses to serve football fans

The Acorn Inn, Lichfield, put a sign on its till informing football supporters that they wouldn’t be served on match day (14 January).

A spokesperson from JD Wetherspoon, which operates the pub, said it stood by the decision not to serve the football fans, but admitted it could have been communicated in a more appropriate way.

Duty to uphold licensing objectives

The spokesperson added: “As licensed premises, our pubs have a duty to uphold the licensing objectives, which include the prevention of crime and disorder.”

“Following police advice and in order to uphold these objectives, we made the decision not to serve any customers who were identifiable as football supporters.

“While we stand by that decision, we do apologise for the way this was communicated on the day by our pub team.

“We will be reviewing the way such decisions are communicated in the future.”

Coming out with ‘claptrap’

Those upset with the move have taken to Twitter to voice their outrage.

One user said a movement is needed against “sports-based discrimination”

@MJJSeagull@jdwtweet@FSF_FairCop The amount of money Wetherspoon's take week in week out from football fans to come out with this claptrap

— Carla Mayers (@Azul_76) January 17, 2017

 JD Wetherspoon came under fire last summer (July) when it was forced to defend its decision to raise its price of a pint on pubs near football grounds on match days.

A JDW spokesperson assured customers that it is perfectly within the law to increase prices.