A BURY pub has been accused of discriminating against disabled people after “refusing” to serve them food.

Jigsaw, a Bury-based charitable social and sports group for young disabled people aged from 13 to 30, met at the Wellington Pub in Bolton Road last week when the incident happened.

The group’s members, who were predominantly in their early 20s, were allegedly refused food as they had only booked the table for drinks.

Karin Stein-Deane, whose 22-year-old grandson, Daniel Cope, is a member of the group, was left livid at the decision.

She said: “Daniel called us to say that they would not serve them food. I could not believe it. These men had come to this meeting and they had not had anything to eat all day.

“I went there and spoke to the manager to find out what was going on and she said it was because when they booked the table they did not want food.

“But there were other people in there who were being served food.

“It’s disgusting. They were discriminating against them because they are disabled.”

The monthly meeting is held by the group to discuss forthcoming activities.

Annabel Chappell, who is a carer for an 18-year-old girl who attended the meeting, said she was left stunned by the decision.

She added: “For a group of people without handicaps this would be outrageous. However, as our group was being dropped off and picked up from this pub at certain times and most would not be able to walk to a different place for food or would get distressed by this anyway, it is a complete violation of basic hospitality and human rights.

“To make matters worse, a lot of the people within the group, such as the girl I care for, cannot express their own points, as she is non-verbal, and would not understand why they are not able to order food.

“I’m completely astonished that this sort of thing is allowed to happen,” she said.

This meeting was not the first time that the group have decided to meet at the pub.

A spokesman for the Wellington pub said: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience and distress caused to this party of regular guests, who we have always been pleased to welcome to the pub.

“We pride ourselves on providing a warm and welcoming environment for all and we have a strict policy against discrimination of any kind.

“We are investigating why the usual great dining experience that every guest can expect when they visit with us was not met on this occasion, and we are in contact with the party to make things right.”

A spokesman for Jigsaw confirmed it was aware of the incident and had spoken to the brewery.