A Bolton couple claim their mini-moon was 'ruined' after he and his wife were asked to leave a Wetherspoons. Pete Hopkinson and his wife Wendy travelled to Southport on November 4 for a two-day seaside trip, celebrating their August wedding.
The newlyweds stayed at the Royal Clifton Hotel on the Promenade, just a stone's throw from the Sir Henry Segrave JD Wetherspoon restaurant. They said they visited the branch for food and drinks with their assistance dog, Princess Pink Hopkinson, "without issue" on their first evening in town.
However, Pete, 43, claims that when they returned to the restaurant the next day and ordered food and drinks, a manager approached them and asked them to leave due to the company's 'no dog policy'. Pete, who relies on his assistance dog to help him "integrate into society" due to his severe autism, told the ECHO how the altercation with the manager made the couple feel as though their first break as a married couple 'had been ruined'.
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He says he had to take medication due to the stress, and Wendy, who also has autism and struggles with blood sugar, has spent hours recovering.
Pete, a dedicated social media networker and blogger, said: "We're simple people and we don't need to spend loads of money to be happy. We thought it would be good to come to Southport because it's the quiet season in the town and it's not too far away for a couple of nights.
"My dog is there to make my life easier and allows me to connect with society, assistance dogs have the same rights as guidance dogs so there is no reason why they shouldn't have let us stay. If this has happened to me it could happen to someone else."
Following the incident, Pete captured an image of a sign on the pub's door stating, "Sorry. No dogs allowed except for assistance dogs".
A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson told the ECHO: "For many years, we have not permitted dogs or other animals in Wetherspoon pubs.
"Exceptions are made for trained guide dogs and other types of assistance dog. We do not however allow entry to emotional support dogs. On this occasion, it was not clear that the customer's dog was an assistance dog. The company's policy was explained to the customer and he was politely asked not to bring his dog to the pub."
