Grieving soldiers refused admission to Coventry bar

The owner of Brown's cafe bar in Coventry has apologised after grieving soldiers were turned away from the venue just hours before the funeral of Corporal Michael Thacker.



The Jordan Well* venue was open as usual this morning after sparking outrage when staff refused to serve the friends and family of the city soldier before his funeral on Monday - because they were wearing their military uniforms.

Owner Ken Brown was visibly shaken and upset as he told the Telegraph: “I apologise to the family.

“I wasn’t on the premises at the time.

“If I was things may have been different.

“Staff were unaware of the funeral. They were just following the company’s rules.

“I don’t know what else I can say.”

Mr Brown would not state what the company’s door policy was but said it was “possible” that it would be up for review.

A Facebook campaign called Boycott Browns in Coventry has so far attracted more than 40,000 members.

*It's actually in Earl Street [DM]

The internet forums are buzzing about this.

The suggestion is that it wasn't the door policy as the soldiers were already in and ready to order. Apparently "It was after they ordered that a female "manager" ... that then said they were not to be served and when asked why, they were told directly that "we don't want your kind in here"! - Lifted direct from a face-ache page.

Corporal Michael Thacker's wife accepts full apology from Brown's bar in Coventry

Coventry Police are calling for calm in response to angry messages posted on social media about Browns cafe bar.

The bar sparked outrage when staff refused to serve the friends and family of city soldier Corporal Michael Thacker before his funeral on Monday - because they were wearing their military uniforms.

Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman said in a police statement: “There has been a large amount of comments on various social media networks about what happened at Browns on Monday.

“Mr Brown does not use social media and was unaware of the strength of feeling across the country, but he fully understands why people are upset.

“I have spoken to Catherine Thacker [Corporal Michael Thacker’s widow] this morning and she has accepted Mr Brown’s apology.

“Whilst I understand how people feel, people must now move on and would appeal for calm especially in relation to posts made on social media sites.”

A small protest organised on Facebook was held outside the Jordan Well bar this afternoon.

One protestor waved a placard bearing the message Browns Bars Grieving Soldier’s Family.

In an official statement issued via Coventry Police, Browns owner Ken Brown admitted he would have served the soldiers.

He said: “On Monday 25th June two uniformed military personnel visited my bar with a view to purchasing coffee and were refused by a member of staff as it is company policy not to serve someone in uniform. I was not present on the premises at the time.

“I have since been made aware of why these soldiers were in Coventry and had I known of the circumstances I would have willingly served them.

“I am genuinely sorry for the distress caused to the family of the late Corporal Michael Thacker and through the military family liaison officer I have sent an unreserved apology to Catherine and the soldiers concerned.”