Nicola Clark on the patrons with learning disabilities told they couldn't sing at their regular venue
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Karaoke. Photograph: Sean Murphy/Getty Images
Many other local pubs which also run karaoke nights have now offered the men a chance to sing. Photograph: Sean Murphy/Getty Images
James, David and Keiffer are pretty standard housemates. They get on well with their neighbours, and enjoy a Friday night in the Abington Pub, Northampton.
They've never caused any trouble, or got into fights. They have been going every week for six months, because they like to sing and Friday night is karaoke night. The DJ, who runs the evening hands out the songbooks and the punters sing.
The guys sing, they drink, they enjoy a night out, they go home.
Last Friday night was different though. As the DJ laid the songbooks out he didn't include James and Keiffer's table (David was due to arrive later). The men were puzzled but presumed it was perhaps a private party. They didn't make a fuss or any trouble – they were just confused.
It was also Children in Need night, traditionally a time when the country digs deep and embraces children with disabilities and additional needs who grow up and become adults with disabilities and additional needs.
Not necessarily adults in need of fundraising, just adults in need of inclusion and equality, in need of social networks and independence.
In need, in short, of the things that the rest of us take for granted.
Alex Duggan the manager of Ryan QC Homes, which owns and runs supported accommodation units, was at home on his night off when his mobile rang. The support worker who called said there was a problem and that James and Keiffer were upset at being excluded from the karaoke night.
When Alex got there he found that the three service users were distressed.
When they stopped being treated equally, as entitled as anyone else to participate, when the owner Neil Bartholomey instructed that the DJ not place songbooks on their table, learning disability became the issue.
No other patron was treated like this irrespective of their singing ability.
Bartholomey had been too busy to speak to the other support worker and so the men had waited. Alex wasn't waiting any more. He asked the owner why the men were excluded, in the report he wrote detailing the events of that night, Alex stated:
I informed Neil that My name was Alex Duggan and that I was the manager at the house where the young men lived.
I then asked Neil, 'The DJ told my member of staff that it was your decision to not allow the residents to sing on the karaoke, is that correct?'
Neil confirmed 'yes'
I replied 'ok, what is your reasoning behind not allowing my residents to sing on the karaoke?
Neil said 'well, the thing is, I'm a business man and ... well, they just can't sing can they?'
I asked Neil 'who he meant by 'they' and he confirmed to me the 'residents'
Neil said 'they don't even sing, they just shout the words' and also he 'had quite a few complaints from the public about them singing'
I asked who from but he just said 'the public'
Alex cited the 2010 Equalities Act, he questioned the wisdom of a course of action act so potentially discriminatory, he suggested that Bartholomey reconsider.
In the end he requested that if the answer was still no then the owner must tell the guys himself.
So Bartholomey did.
He approached and was introduced by Alex and James shook his hand. That's how anti-social the group were, they politely and quietly said hello. Alex's report describes how Bartholomey then told the men that they were "bad for business".
Devastated and completely confused, the group left. According to Alex they have never once in all the time that they've visited the Abington Pub in Northampton, been refused participation before.
Since the story hit the national press this week local people have rallied behind the three men. Offers have come in from many other local pubs which also run karaoke nights. One man sent a karaoke machine as a present. The housemates are very involved in their local community and very well liked.
James in particular seems to have been singled out for criticism from Bartholomey who claims James "Just shouts words" yet as Alex said to me:
James is a great singer who certainly doesn't shout. He and the other guys from his house have loved going to the karaoke night every Friday for the last six months and there has never been a problem with the manager or anyone else there. Since the manager left, two weeks ago this has happened and the guys just want to go somewhere else."
Neil Bartholomey did eventually get back to me, with his his take on the events surrounding the night. He made it clear that James was welcome to return to the pub any time and wasn't banned. He went on:
To clarify the current situation there are no issues. Shouting down the microphone was not pleasant. This is not at any point about them being disabled it's about their ability to make a tune and they have lost that ability.
I'm standing by my comments it's inappropriate - they don't sing they make a noise. We're in a PC country where everyone is afraid to say anything. I raise money for them, this is kick a guy when he's down time.
In fairness to me, I just want it to go away. I have apologised, for having to deal with the situation – not what we did. I tried to discuss it with Mr Duggan he didn't want to know. He refused to discuss it with me. James is welcome in my pub any time but everything in moderation.
I just hope that James, David and Keiffer find somewhere to sing.
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