Landlord prosecuted over homophobic pub sign
The landlord of a Wiltshire pub who allowed a homophobic sign to be displayed outside his premises has been found guilty of public order offence at Chippenham Magistrates Court.
The pub’s former landlords John Williams, 40, and his 26-year-old partner Lee Skaife believed the sign, which read ‘faggots and mince not on the menu,’ referred to them. They made a formal complaint to police.
Mr Williams and Mr Skaife left the Anchor and Hope pub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in September 2006 after 15 months at the helm.
New landlord Adrian Taylor, 54, has been fined £500 by magistrates.
He said that he did not write the sign, which appeared a few days after he took over the pub, but found it amusing and did not remove it.
“You must realise society will not tolerate this behaviour,” Magistrate Lynn Mathews told him, according to The Mirror.
Previously Mr Williams told the Wiltshire Times: “I couldn’t believe it. I was fuming. That is taking the mickey out of every gay person in the town.
“We didn’t run a gay pub, but it wouldn’t matter if we did. We have never even spoken to these people.
“I think it’s disgusting because we are not a disease.
“I thought we were past all this. This is going back to the dark ages. It is discrimination against us and everyone else who used the pub.”
