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Gay couple say London hotel denied them double room | Gay couple say London hotel denied them double room |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has said he and his boyfriend were refused a double room at a London hotel by a receptionist who repeatedly asked "are you sure you don't want single beds?". | A man has said he and his boyfriend were refused a double room at a London hotel by a receptionist who repeatedly asked "are you sure you don't want single beds?". |
Nick Hurley, 22, and Gavin Maclean, 28, from Manchester, had booked the double room at the Thistle City Barbican hotel in east London for Saturday night. | Nick Hurley, 22, and Gavin Maclean, 28, from Manchester, had booked the double room at the Thistle City Barbican hotel in east London for Saturday night. |
Mr Hurley said: "I believe I've been treated in a homophobic way." | Mr Hurley said: "I believe I've been treated in a homophobic way." |
Thistle Hotels said: "We do not tolerate homophobic behaviour." | Thistle Hotels said: "We do not tolerate homophobic behaviour." |
Spokesman for the hotel chain Chris King said: "We're sorry to hear this. We take matters like this very seriously and we are investigating. | |
"We apologise for the way they feel." | |
Mr Hurley and Mr Maclean were visiting the capital for the weekend and had been to the theatre before arriving at the hotel at about 23:30 GMT. | Mr Hurley and Mr Maclean were visiting the capital for the weekend and had been to the theatre before arriving at the hotel at about 23:30 GMT. |
Twitter response | |
He said: "When we got there, we tried to check in, and the receptionist looked at us and said 'are you sure you want a double room or do you want single beds?'" | He said: "When we got there, we tried to check in, and the receptionist looked at us and said 'are you sure you want a double room or do you want single beds?'" |
"He had obviously seen it was two guys. We said 'we've booked a double and we'd quite like one'. | "He had obviously seen it was two guys. We said 'we've booked a double and we'd quite like one'. |
"He then looked at us and said 'are you sure you don't want single beds?' | "He then looked at us and said 'are you sure you don't want single beds?' |
"He insisted on repeating that question," Mr Hurley said. "I felt it was a way of him imposing his own stamp on the situation. I got a barbed vibe. | "He insisted on repeating that question," Mr Hurley said. "I felt it was a way of him imposing his own stamp on the situation. I got a barbed vibe. |
"He said we'll have to put you in a family room, with single beds. There were no doubles left in the hotel. | "He said we'll have to put you in a family room, with single beds. There were no doubles left in the hotel. |
"We're quite non-confrontational," the 22-year-old said. "I'm not that easily wound up but I was angered. We were tired and decided not to make an issue." | |
'Basic bullying' | 'Basic bullying' |
He said he was "upset" and later tweeted: "Homophobic receptionist at @ThistleHotels refused me & my bf our pre-booked double room. Insisted we take a "family" room w/ separate beds." | He said he was "upset" and later tweeted: "Homophobic receptionist at @ThistleHotels refused me & my bf our pre-booked double room. Insisted we take a "family" room w/ separate beds." |
He said he was "taken aback" that he had since received thousands of messages of support. | He said he was "taken aback" that he had since received thousands of messages of support. |
"This kind of thing is basic bullying," he said. "It can't happen. If anything comes out of this, it should inspire organisations to change." | "This kind of thing is basic bullying," he said. "It can't happen. If anything comes out of this, it should inspire organisations to change." |
Gay rights group Stonewall's chief executive Ben Summerskill said: "Subject to the facts being as reported, it's sad to see that this sort of thing is still happening as it's been unlawful for five years. | Gay rights group Stonewall's chief executive Ben Summerskill said: "Subject to the facts being as reported, it's sad to see that this sort of thing is still happening as it's been unlawful for five years. |
"A major hotel company must be well aware they can no more turn away a gay couple than a mixed race couple, even though they might not approve of them either." | "A major hotel company must be well aware they can no more turn away a gay couple than a mixed race couple, even though they might not approve of them either." |