Restaurant turns away blind man with dog

A BLIND man is considering legal action after he was barred from an Indian restaurant in Tunbridge Wells because he was accompanied by his guide dog.

Alun Elder-Brown, of Friezeland Road, who has only four per cent vision in one eye, was told he could not bring his dog Finn inside the Kirthon restaurant on the Pantiles.

He was turned away even though he displayed a card issued by the Institute of Environmental Health Officers certifying he and Finn are allowed into any premises.

The angry 51-year-old said: "It was humiliating and degrading, especially as there were a lot of people around me. I was made to feel like a piece of dirt.

"Initially they told me we couldn't come in because it was against their religious beliefs to have a dog in the restaurant, but after 10 minutes they said they were fully booked.

"They then said I could leave Finn tied up outside – this was after they told me they were fully booked. I stayed calm but when they threatened to call the police we left."

Mr Elder-Brown, a media sales executive, was out celebrating a friend's birthday on Saturday night with her five-year-old daughter.

He said: "It was horrible. It put a dampner on the whole celebration. I don't want to be a torch bearer for guide dog owners but this sort of behaviour has got to stop."

Since 1996 it has been unlawful for restaurants or any service providers to refuse to serve a disabled person – including guide dog owners.

Mr Elder-Brown said he would be pursuing legal action under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Spokeswoman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission Victoria Burton said if an individual went to court with a claim, a business could potentially be ordered to pay compensation.

Guide Dogs spokesman Chris Dyson said: "We are extremely disappointed that Alun was refused access to this restaurant.

"Alun's guide dog provides him with independence and it is unacceptable when this freedom is removed because of the attitude of service providers.

"Guide dogs are well groomed and are trained to sit at their owner's feet, not climb on seats or bother other customers.

"We encourage the restaurant to contact Guide Dogs, so we can help them to understand their requirements under the law, and most importantly, allay their concerns about the guide dog, allowing Alun and other blind and partially sighted people to be welcomed into the premises in future."

The brother of Kirthon's owner Amenur Abdussamad told the Kent and Sussex Courier they were fully booked and it was against their religious beliefs to allow a dog in the restaurant.