Bristol B&B Owners - Don't Panic

Following the B&B Gay Stay ruling many small hoteliers are going to be asking themselves does this mean I am now forced to accept any customer on request, irrespective of whether I as the owner want to or not. I can reassure you this isnt the case.

Peter and Hazelmary Bull's only real crime was naievette.

The Judges ruling that the couple had directly discriminated by saying their rooms were only for married couples has absolutely no baring on the fundamental right of restaurants, pubs and hotels to not supply to customers with food and lodging only THEY want to.

What they can't do is to refuse on certain grounds such as race, sex, creed; but the fundamental point is they aren't required to give a reason not to supply. Pubs ( despite their name Public) restaurants and Hotels are not public spaces, they are private businesses offering services to whom they wish. (Its usually assumed most operators want all customers!)

The Bulls mistake as fairly green and essentially 'amateur' operators is they actually gave a reason. Since the dawn of Christainity Innkeepers and Hoteliers have been making up reasons to explain to customers why they can't stay. There is no room at the Inn (We lost your reservation, and everyone else has arrived) - in reality there was still three rooms to check in but the Receptionist figured Joseph and Mary looked the most gullible and would take the line without too much fuss; they even took the Stable.

In other words you aren't required to tell the truth, we never have been, its always been about managing customers expectations in a crisis.

So next time you Christian's feel abit uncomfortable with guests that turn up not quite fitting your pre determined biblical ideas of how couples should be, try these :

We've had a flood, and your rooms a wreck.
Theres been a power failure in your wing and we can't get an electrician until tomorrow
We lost your reservation, Im so sorry, we've booked you into another Hotel.

Honestly theres loads more....

But what I think we can all agree won't work and never would is..

'I am so sorry we can't give a room, cos God hates poofs'.