Pub cancels Ladies’ Night after man threatened to sue landlord for gender discrimination
A village pub owner has been forced to cancel his 12-year run of discounted ladies’ nights – after a disgruntled man said it was “discrimination”.
Owner Simon Skinner has called out the popular 50 per cent meal discounts available to female customers at his pub The Star Inn in Lingfield, Surrey on Monday night.
The beloved tradition, which began in 2010, will receive its last orders at the end of October after a city whistle claimed it was “discrimination”.
Under the Equality Act 2010, cases of sex discrimination, which include the provision of different goods and services to men and women because of their sex, can be pursued in the civil courts where a complaint is brought.
The country pub said on its Facebook page that the night, popular with both men and women, was introduced to “keep the balance” when it came to gender inequality.
Regulars expressed their shock and outrage, branding the complaint “ridiculous” and that the “world had gone mad.”
Owner Simon Skinner (pictured) has ended the pub’s 12-year run of discounted ladies’ nights – after an angry man said it was “discrimination”.
Sex Discrimination: The Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act of 2010 does not allow positive discrimination in favor of one sex.
Under the 2010 law, it is illegal to treat people in a certain way because of their “protected characteristics” – including sex.
Gender discrimination cases can be pursued in the civil courts by filing a lawsuit.
Gender discrimination can be invoked when goods and services are provided differently to men and women because of their sex.
The Star Inn, which serves women’s meals at a 50 percent discount on Mondays, offers a different price based on gender.
Mr Skinner said the offer was about “giving back to women who quite often don’t get a good deal”.
However, positive discrimination is not permitted under the law.
Positive action measures where one gender could be given particular encouragement without actually discriminating against the other are permitted.
Gender discrimination also applies to scenarios such as education, housing, employment and training.
Activities by public authorities such as the NHS, government departments, local authorities, the police and prisons are also covered by the law.
Other followers suggested ways to sidestep the man’s complaint, with some suggesting a “men’s night out” in alternative weeks.
The 57-year-old owner said the complaint was the first time in his 12 years running the Star Inn that someone had questioned ladies’ night – and in his 26 years in the business running it offered a deal.
Mr Skinner, from Lindfield, West Sussex, said: “The guy who complained on Monday night refused to pay full price.
“He came from out of town and stayed at our hotel, we’re a pub with rooms.
“First he did it in a joking way, then he got serious. I thought “this could go further and generate a lot of bad press”.
“This is the first time I have had a complaint. We’d get men who would joke, “When are you doing a guys’ night out?”
“But they don’t really mean it. This is the first time in 12 years that someone has seriously said, “This is discrimination, this has to stop”.
“This man threatened to take it further. Many Facebook commenters saw the story as “What? Just a complaint from a man?”
“But it’s not that simple, it’s a serious complaint and you have to act on it.”
Mr Skinner has been hosting Ladies’ Nights at his former establishments since the mid 1990’s and had previously found them to be well received by both men and women.
“In 1996 I bought my first restaurant and started hosting Ladies Night there and had eight successful years there. Ladies night was always great,” he said.
“Deep down I always knew it was a bit iffy, but it was always done with the best of intentions.
“It was about giving something back to women who often don’t get much.
“All in all, I’ve been doing this job for 26 years. We had a really good run.
The 57-year-old owner posted the announcement on the pub’s Facebook page with the image above
“After 26 years, I’ve talked to a lot of people about that night. Overwhelmingly, both men and women are very satisfied with this offer.
“About 20 percent of the people who show up on Monday night will be men who are bringing their partners on an actually cheaper date.”
Mr Skinner claims that ladies’ night works because women are “more talkative” than men.
He said: “I think men know deep down that women love to have that space where they can chat with friends.
“When the women come in on a Monday night, they sit and talk about every aspect of their lives for two hours.
“That just doesn’t happen with men. It’s mostly “Are you alright?”, “Yes, you?”, “Are you watching the game?”
The Star Inn’s popular tradition of giving women 50 percent off their meal on Mondays will receive their last orders after October
“Women feel the need to communicate much more than men.
“I just think there’s something special about women – and it’s a great opportunity to meet friends.
‘Ladies’ Night works really well – the conversation flows.
“My wife recently had a friend come see and they talked for two hours.
“I just don’t think men have that much to say to each other. I know that’s sexist.
“A lot of men have a lot to talk about, I know my friends and I can talk, but women can have those conversations with acquaintances and work colleagues.
“Unless men are really close, I don’t think they have the same connection.”
Monday nights have been a favorite at the Star Inn for years, and seats fill up weeks in advance.
Social media users flooded the comments section of the pub’s Facebook post
Mr Skinner said: Ladies’ Night will sell out two or three weeks in advance.
“We have around 120 seats in the pub and another 250 in the garden in the summer.
“From a business point of view, Ladies’ Night has a number of advantages.
“You don’t make a lot of money with 50 percent off food, but you do make money with drinks.
“The End of an Era” for The Star Inn
The Star Inn’s full Facebook post:
‘The end of an era!
“For twelve years we have been organizing the Ladies Night with 50 percent discount on the food for all the dear ladies. We are fully booked every week, often weeks in advance, and it is used as a great meeting place by many women in the area.
“We always knew it was a bit iffy, given that we were indeed discriminating against men, but in a world that’s clearly weighted against women, it was our small way to restore balance.
“Unfortunately, after a complaint from a man who visited us on Monday evening, we can no longer continue this offer in its current form from the end of October.
‘We would like to thank you all for your amazing support over the years and please look out for an announcement on how we can continue some sort of Ladies’ Night in the future!’
“It’s a great start to the week and great PR too because women will be telling their friends about it.
“If you bring them in on a Monday night, they’re likely to come later in the week with their family or partners.”
Now Mr. Skinner is pondering ideas for keeping the ladies’ night spirit alive.
“I’m considering a few options for the future,” he said.
“Nothing is 100 percent. But the logical conclusion – and I haven’t announced that on Facebook yet – is that we’ll continue to call it Ladies’ Night, but 25 percent off for ladies and 25 percent off for men.
“Women will not benefit more than men, it will just be a name.
“That way it keeps its identity, but it becomes fairer for everyone.”
Social media users flooded the comments section of the pub’s post on Facebook.
One user wrote: “I think you should continue ladies night but also a night especially for the boys. Then they can’t complain. Then no one misses out.’
Another commented: “And guys like him are the reason we ladies love to get together on a Monday night!! Maybe keep it, but change its name.”
One wrote: “Love your pub and thank you for doing ladies night for 12 years, the fact it was one man who put an end to it! Oh the irony.’
One husband commented: “I was downstairs with my wife on a Monday night.
“I paid full price for my meal and never had a problem with it.
“This village is turning into a sad place. Seems like some people are moaning at the moaning.
“All I can say is keep it up. I’m sure 99.9 percent of men won’t have a problem with that.”
Others suggested ways the star could cater to all customers.
One wrote: “Why don’t you rebrand it and give everyone 25 per cent off groceries. In a world where we want equality, we need to remember that both men and women need support from friends and groups.
“Both men and women are struggling mentally and financially. It doesn’t have to stop, it can go all inclusive.”
Some commentators sided with the male complainant and questioned whether it was fair to exclude men from discounts on groceries.
One wrote: “He’s right. Why would a group of male friends getting together for a date pay more? This is discrimination.
“Unfortunately, the suicide rate among men is high, it’s not just women who need to talk to friends. It’s terrible to make male friendships seem less important.’
Another remarked: “Reading the comments makes me laugh…imagine it were a boys night out…the world would go mad and immediately condemn the owners for discrimination. FYI I don’t mind… just had to comment.’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11340173/Pub-cancels-Ladies-Night-man-threatened-report-landlord-sex-discrimination.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Pub cancels Ladies’ Night after man threatened to sue landlord for gender discrimination
