Diner wins damages from restaurant that refused guide dog entry

A charity trustee has been awarded damages from a restaurant that refused his guide dog entry.

Leonard Cheshire Disability Trustee Jon Prashar, who is registered blind, was denied access to the Indigo restaurant in Carlisle this August with his dog, Mr T - despite informing staff that ‘T' was a guide dog.

Mr Prashar, who is from Wakefield in Yorkshire, brought the case at Birmingham County Court, on the grounds that the restaurant had discriminated against him. The court issued judgement in October, as the restaurant failed to file a defence, and found the business in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

Today, Mr Prashar was awarded £1,500 and costs.

Mr Prashar comments: "I'm delighted that such a clear message has today been sent to businesses, that access is a legal right and not a luxury for disabled people.

"Disabled people make up 18% of the population and are a valuable source of income to businesses. I hope that this judgement will help change wider attitudes amongst businesses, so that I can eat where I choose to as every paying customer should be able to.

Jack Klar, of Jack Klar Solicitors in Halesowen, West Midlands, who represented Mr Prashar throughout the whole of these proceedings, said: "I have worked with many local businesses advising them on how to comply with the Equality Act 2010.  However, there are some businesses that still unlawfully discriminate against disabled people.  I hope that this judgement will make it clear to such businesses that discrimination is unacceptable."

Access and the Equality Act 2010

Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses must make reasonable adjustments - within the scope of their resources - to ensure disabled people are able to use their services and are not discriminated against. This includes a duty to anticipate the sort of issues that might arise and to plan in advance, meaning that all businesses should be thinking about whether they are properly accessible.

Compliance with the law is not formally enforced or monitored by any official body, but relies on individual cases, such as Mr Prashar's being brought to court, which can be time-consuming and costly for the individual.

Read more about the role of assistance dogs and what the law says in our information for businesses section.