Wetherspoon bouncers refused cerebral palsy sufferer entry because they thought he was drunk

One of Britain's biggest pub chains has apologised after a man with cerebral palsy was refused entry - because bouncers thought he was drunk.

Simon Pinner, 45, says he was turned away by door staff who told him he was walking 'funny' and his speech was slurred.

He said the incident happened in front of a friend at the Banker's Draft in Bedford and left him "humiliated and upset".

Pub owners Wetherspoon have now apologised to him but said they were not told he has cerebral palsy.

Simon, of Bedford, said: "They said they couldn't let me in because I was walking funny. I said I have cerebral palsy. I was humiliated and upset.

"I explained to them about them time I had cerebral palsy but they just didn't seem to take any notice.

"Everything I have built up over the years, like my confidence and self-belief, they have destroyed."

Simon, a supermarket worker, had been in the pub earlier in the evening with friends without any problems.

He found himself barred when he returned from having a meal elsewhere with one of his mates.

Simon, whose balance, co-ordination and speech are affected by cerebral palsy, said he had only had a few drinks and he wasn't drunk when he returned.

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He went back to the pub two days after the incident and the manager apologised.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said: "We apologise to the gentleman if he felt he was unfairly treated.

"The door staff observed two men making their way towards the pub, both men were staggering.

"Based on the staggering and slurred speech when they approached the gentlemen were refused entry."

He said the door staff genuinely believed the men were intoxicated and "at no point" was Simon's cerebral palsy mentioned.