Coventry bar turns away funeral soldiers

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**Lux_Lucis**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-18607764

Soldiers who were pallbearers at a corporal's funeral say they were "absolutely disgusted" at being turned away from a Coventry pub on Monday.

Cpl David Allison, of The Royal Welsh, said the men had wanted tea or coffee to "calm our nerves" during rehearsals for Cpl Michael Thacker's funeral.

More than 50,000 people have backed a Facebook campaign calling for Browns Independent Bar to be boycotted.

The bar, which has a policy of not serving people in uniform, apologised.

Owner Ken Brown said the soldiers would have been served if staff had known the funeral was taking place.

Cpl Thacker, 27, of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, died on 1 June after being shot while manning an observation post in Helmand, Afghanistan.

The funeral for the soldier, who lived in Keresley, Coventry, with his wife Catherine and two-year-old daughter, took place at the city's cathedral on Monday.

His brother Matthew, a member of the same battalion, was among the pallbearers refused service at Browns Independent Bar.

Cpl Allison said they went into the Earl Street bar during a 40-minute break and did not want alcohol.

He tried to be served after two other soldiers were refused.

"The lads that went in, they [staff] basically said that they couldn't come in as you're in fatigues and we won't serve you," he said.

"And it sort of left a numb feeling. What can you do? You just go and that was it."

He added: "We were with Matthew, Michael's brother as well, and we wanted to calm his nerves and it just made things a little bit worse which we didn't want."

Cpl Allison said he felt "absolute disgust" at the policy, although he added that he thought the bar did realise the funeral was taking place.

Cpl Thacker was described a "true hero" by his soldier brother Matthew
He has backed a Facebook campaign calling for people to boycott the pub on Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

"Why are you not allowed in just because of your uniform?" he said.

"You're serving your country and you're wearing a uniform with pride."

The soldier added that support from Coventry residents in general had been "absolutely amazing".

Meanwhile people from Canada, Australia and Thailand are among those who have commented on the Facebook page.

The owner of the bar, Mr Brown, said: "I can only apologise again to the family and anybody else who was upset during the funeral service.

"Just that I'm sorry and that it wouldn't have happened if we had been aware of the funeral at the rear of Brown's, in the cathedral."

I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

**Orlanth**

Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

**PhantomViper**

Orlanth wrote:
Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

Not trying to offend you in any way, but why do you call them "moslems", has there been a new meme that I'm not aware of?

**Kilkrazy**

Maybe they were in combat uniform?

They're not super smart and a lot of crusties, paintballers and builders, etc.

**mattyrm**

The Muzzas don't like soldiers. If there is a substantial population nearby then it makes business sense to ban us. I remember being in a pub in London and about 6 of them where giving me the evil eye and scoffing because I had my "Marine-get out of my fething way" Shirt on.

Sadly other than back handed scoffing none of them did anything, thus giving me grounds to grind them beneath my iron shod boots.

In all seriousness, It's probably not just Muslims, maybe the pub is near a University or something. This type of thing never really offended me as I aged. I was refused entry to loads of pubs, especially in barrack towns with recruits in training, because students/muslims/sensible family type people didn't want their pints spoiled by gangs of 50 shaven headed lads marching in and boisterously drinking the place dry.

I wont chastise you for being pissed, because I think the first few times it ever happened to me when I was young and fiery I was very angry too.. but then me and twenty lads dressed as women rocked up at a boozer in Taunton when I was about 27-28 and I looked around and had an epiphany..

I sorta.. looked at all the hairy arsed commandos shouting and singing dressed in suspenders and thought "No fething wonder they wouldn't serve us in Exeter!"

Its not that big a deal if you really sit down and think about it. If most of your clientèle are older, students, muslim, families, then you dont want gangs of boisterous young lads coming in. And the staff were probably unaware there was a funeral as most people don't care very much about the humble soldier.

I actually feel bad for the owner.. I hope he doesn't wind up bankrupt due to the rage that is "THE INTERNETS"

**AustonT**

PhantomViper wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

Not trying to offend you in any way, but why do you call them "moslems", has there been a new meme that I'm not aware of?

Moslem is a common alternative spelling of Muslim. Like Osama/Usama or China/Sina. Not being an English word spelling is fluid. When I was a kid you would find Moslem more often in books and Muslim in magazines and newspapers. What it isn't is new.

**mattyrm**

AustonT wrote:
PhantomViper wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

Not trying to offend you in any way, but why do you call them "moslems", has there been a new meme that I'm not aware of?
Moslem is a common alternative spelling of Muslim. Like Osama/Usama or China/Sina. Not being an English word spelling is fluid. When I was a kid you would find Moslem more often in books and Muslim in magazines and newspapers. What it isn't is new.

Yeah same as Qur'an, Al-Qur'an, Koran and such as well.

I have loads of alternative spellings for Muslim, but they all get blocked by the swear filter and then I get banned.

**PhantomViper**

AustonT wrote:
PhantomViper wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

Not trying to offend you in any way, but why do you call them "moslems", has there been a new meme that I'm not aware of?
Moslem is a common alternative spelling of Muslim. Like Osama/Usama or China/Sina. Not being an English word spelling is fluid. When I was a kid you would find Moslem more often in books and Muslim in magazines and newspapers. What it isn't is new.

Like I said, I wasn't trying to offend anyone I just hadn't noticed the different spelling I guess (and my spell checker identifying it as a mistake didn't help as well).

**Frazzled**

Why did they leave the bar standing? Sometimes swift blinding violence is just the thing...

**Phototoxin**

So they want special exemption because they are soldiers?

**dogma**

I know plenty of places that won't serve men in uniform, because men in uniform can be right pricks even outside people being pricks to them.

Or, alternatively as friend once said, if you wear you're uniform when you don't need to you're being a douche.

**Phototoxin**

dogma wrote:
Or, alternatively as friend once said, if you wear you're uniform when you don't need to you're being a douche.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that! *hugs dogma* It's a bit like junior doctors running around in lab coats and stethoscopes... grinds my gears that does!

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

dogma wrote:I know plenty of places that won't serve men in uniform, because men in uniform can be right pricks even outside people being pricks to them.

Or, alternatively as friend once said, if you wear you're uniform when you don't need to you're being a douche.

There's a guy like that at the lgs I go to, he got in on about his 5th attempt and now just wears his uniform anyway

Back on topic if it's against the rules it's against the rules

**Orlanth**

PhantomViper wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

Not trying to offend you in any way, but why do you call them "moslems", has there been a new meme that I'm not aware of?

Because I dont write in arabic.

Look up Muslems, Moslems, Muslims.

Look up Quran and Koran.

Different anglicisations of a word that doesn't use the Latin script, consequently to my knowledge no standard spelling exists.

'Muzzas' is probably more a negative epithet than a translation, but its Matty so we ought to let that slide.

Edit - Thing with replying to posts as I read them. Someone else already applied.
At least it means some folks agree with me on something.

**RossDas**

I thought Muslims frowned upon alcohol consumption? It seems a little strange that a pub owner would be concerned about their views when making policy, I doubt that is the reason.

**Joey**

I wonder if the soldiers tried explaining that they'd just been to a serviceman's funeral?
All I can say is if soldiers are half as bad as rugby players, I'd vacate the place sharpish.

**Medium of Death**

It sounds like there might be more to this, as I doubt anybody would be that heartless to say no to somebody attending a funeral. Maybe they never mentioned it and got mouthy when they were told they couldn't get served?

This is a complete non story and makes me want to bang my head on the desk in front of me.

**Kanluwen**

Joey wrote:I wonder if the soldiers tried explaining that they'd just been to a serviceman's funeral?

BBC News wrote:Cpl Allison said he felt "absolute disgust" at the policy, although he added that he thought the bar did realise the funeral was taking place.

It seems that they didn't try to explain it; just assuming that the bar realised the funeral was taking place.

**mattyrm**

Joey wrote:I wonder if the soldiers tried explaining that they'd just been to a serviceman's funeral?
All I can say is if soldiers are half as bad as rugby players, I'd vacate the place sharpish.

Yeah exactly, they are as bad as rugger teams, thus its smart to ban them if your clientèle aren't generally the right side of 25.

And I agree that soldiers in rig in public places are ridiculous as PT said, but if it was for a funeral it is allowed surely? You have to wear number ones if your a pallbearer for feths sake!

In the RM it is extremely frowned upon to wear rig in public. The Army, Navy and Airforce all seem to do it, cos I always used to see them at service stations and such, but in the RM people just think your being a tit. Sorta like "Look at me I am hoofing"

I suppose cos we actually are eh?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

dogma wrote:I know plenty of places that won't serve men in uniform, because men in uniform can be right pricks even outside people being pricks to them.

Or, alternatively as friend once said, if you wear you're uniform when you don't need to you're being a douche.

All true, many servicemen are douchebags.

Only human after all, and most people are douchebags!

**AustonT**

Medium of Death wrote:It sounds like there might be more to this, as I doubt anybody would be that heartless to say no to somebody attending a funeral. Maybe they never mentioned it and got mouthy when they were told they couldn't get served?

This is a complete non story and makes me want to bang my head on the desk in front of me.

How did you get that impression?

CPL Allison wrote:"The lads that went in, they [staff] basically said that they couldn't come in as you're in fatigues and we won't serve you," he said.

"And it sort of left a numb feeling. What can you do? You just go and that was it."

Mouthy feths did as they were asked and left.

Kanluwen wrote:
Joey wrote:I wonder if the soldiers tried explaining that they'd just been to a serviceman's funeral?

BBC News wrote:Cpl Allison said he felt "absolute disgust" at the policy, although he added that he thought the bar did not realise the funeral was taking place.

It seems that they didn't try to explain it; just assuming that the bar realised the funeral was taking place.

You have misquoted the article. I have copy and pasted from the article into your quote and bolded the relevant portion, or "fixed." The quote from the bar owner seems to imply the cathedral the funeral was taking place was right next door or at least close and from what I gather the funeral was a big enough deal that the BBC had already written an article and sent a photographer. Which doesn't guarantee it ever hit the bar owners radar.

Bar owner wrote:Just that I'm sorry and that it wouldn't have happened if we had been aware of the funeral at the rear of Brown's, in the cathedral.

mattyrm wrote:
And I agree that soldiers in rig in public places are ridiculous as PT said, but if it was for a funeral it is allowed surely? You have to wear number ones if your a pallbearer for feths sake!

I feel like because they said it was for a rehearsal and they said fatigues, that they were not in ones.

**Hordini**

RossDas wrote:I thought Muslims frowned upon alcohol consumption? It seems a little strange that a pub owner would be concerned about their views when making policy, I doubt that is the reason.

Just like any large religious group, Muslims are pretty diverse in terms of what they believe and how strict they are with their religious practices. There are plenty of Christians who frown upon alcohol consumption and don't drink at all, and plenty of Muslims too. On the other hand, some Christians do drink, and some Muslims do as well.

**Palindrome**

Orlanth wrote:
Lux_Lucis wrote:[
I don't get why you'd have that policy. IRA haven't blown up a pub in years.

Because it might offend moslems.

Perhaps because its against Queen's regs to go to a pub in uniform? Of course 'PC GONE MAD' makes better headlines.

This appears to have no obvious malicious motivation.

**Ahtman**

In the article it quotes the bar as saying if they had known they were there for a funeral they would have been served, and had priority. It sounds like they just went in with their uniforms and the staff said they don't serve people wearing a uniform so they left and complained.

I understand the men being upset, but I also imagine that there had to be incidents regarding soldiers in uniform in the past the made them come up with such an odd policy. As usual, a little more communication on both sides would have probably averted the issue.

**Palindrome**

mattyrm wrote:
In the RM it is extremely frowned upon to wear rig in public. The Army, Navy and Airforce all seem to do it, cos I always used to see them at service stations and such, but in the RM people just think your being a tit. Sorta like "Look at me I am hoofing"

Much like Booties utter refusal to wear a T-shirt or to roll down their sleeves in 95s then?

I wear uniform while travelling to work, which includes the odd stop at a petrol station or supermarket, mostly because I can't be bothered changing into civvies for a 10 minute journey.

**Sturmtruppen**

Kilkrazy wrote:Maybe they were in combat uniform?

They're not super smart and a lot of crusties, paintballers and builders, etc.

That's No. 8 Combat Dress, but as it's worn off the field. If they walked in looking like this:

Or this:

Then that might be more cause for concern.

**Kanluwen**

AustonT wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:
Joey wrote:I wonder if the soldiers tried explaining that they'd just been to a serviceman's funeral?

BBC News wrote:Cpl Allison said he felt "absolute disgust" at the policy, although he added that he thought the bar did not realise the funeral was taking place.

It seems that they didn't try to explain it; just assuming that the bar realised the funeral was taking place.

You have misquoted the article. I have copy and pasted from the article into your quote and bolded the relevant portion, or "fixed." The quote from the bar owner seems to imply the cathedral the funeral was taking place was right next door or at least close and from what I gather the funeral was a big enough deal that the BBC had already written an article and sent a photographer. Which doesn't guarantee it ever hit the bar owners radar.

Bar owner wrote:Just that I'm sorry and that it wouldn't have happened if we had been aware of the funeral at the rear of Brown's, in the cathedral.

Check the OP Auston.

When I posted my reply to Joey, it read exactly as it does in the OP.
They have since edited it.

**Jihadin**

I'm nuetral on this due to fact its two different military. US military we are not allowed to drink in uniform or even allowed in a (pure) bar. We are allowed into places like Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday type setting for lunch if its like a resturant setting with a bar. Granted it seems like a low blow to the brits in uniform....Matty no eight digit grid to blow the place up...but I have been in places that "frowns" on soldier in uniforms eating there. One place in particualar was a BBQ resturant that develope a habit of piss poor service to us joes regardless of color. So the Thai Buffet across the street is packed with soldiers during lunch and was expanding it by buying adjoining property. Bar owner there ought to recognize....cash potential source.....

**Kilkrazy**

If a man in a rubber mask with a machine gun walked into my pub and wanted a drink he would get two drinks, if not three.

**Jihadin**

Damn I even throw my debit card up and run a tab...have a good talk with him..mention the possibility of a security company....claim it on taxes as business expense

**AustonT**

Jihadin wrote:Damn I even throw my debit card up and run a tab...have a good talk with him..mention the possibility of a security company....claim it on taxes as business expense

Planning on a business venture in Brasil are we?