Gay couple turned away from Leeds bar after being told it was ‘mixed-sex couples’ only
Patrick Hannon and Jake Archer were refused entry to the venue close to Leeds gay village.
By Will Stroude
A gay couple were refused entry to a bar in Leeds after being told it was “mixed-sex couples” only.
Patrick Hannon, 30, and Jake Archer, 25, were told they were not allowed to enter Jake’s Bar in Call Lane because they were both men.
The couple, who have been together for two and a half years, told the BBC that there was no queue outside the Leeds bar – which located next to the city’s gay village – and that neither of them were drunk.
“We were a bit taken aback to say anything,” Mr Archer said.
“I was just thinking that if Paddy was my girlfriend then we would have been allowed in. It’s discrimination.”
Jake’s Bar is located close to Leeds gay village
Mr Hannon, who works as a police officer, added: “If we were drunk or in a large group then you would understand.
“They need to think about how it makes them look – as a bar they are not very open minded.”
Jake’s Bar says it has launch an investigation into the incident, adding that the door staff are supplied by an “external” company.
Manager Paul Lane said the venue has a “strict equality and diversity policy” and would “never discriminate”.
He said: “We have many customers who identify with LGBTQIA+ communities who frequent the bar regularly.”