The Kintyre Forum

A hotel that turned away a soldier because of a "no military" policy was forced into a humiliating climbdown yesterday.

Corporal Tomas Stringer, 24, had been refused a bed at the £60-a-night Metro Hotel when he returned to the UK for an operation after being hurt in battle.

He was apparently told by staff it was not company policy to admit military. He ended up having to sleep in his car.

The Metro - owned by American Amusements - made the climbdown, saying: "We sincerely apologise for any upset caused.

"The hotel has always had an open-door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and Armed Forces, and will continue to do so.

.................................................

Why has'nt this story received more coverage?

If it had been a person of Asian or African heritage it would be filling the front pages of all the newspapers.

Soon we will be back to the days of the 50s/60s when there were notices in B+Bs "No Irish or Dogs ".

British servicemen and women do a fantastic job under difficult circumstances,wether you agree with the policy or not,and deserve to be treated better.

I sincerely hope this chain of hotels feels the backlash and are boycotted by all.

With you all the way on that one Bill!

Yeah, me too.

With you 100%.

Has the hotel not given any reason why this happened, apart from saying that they have an "open door policy". Has the open door policy been adopted since this incident was reported in the press, and if so, why were military personnel banned in the first place?

"It said in recent months the hotel had “experienced some rather serious incidents” resulting from personnel from a local barracks staying at the hotel, and said staff had been requested to act with caution when taking future bookings from members of the armed forces."


He added: “On this particular occasion there was a mistake made by a duty receptionist and the hotel management sincerely apologises for that mistake.”


So after being caught out with their discrimination policy it's a case of blaming the lowest on the ladder, ie. the receptionist.

I didn't know of this contemptious story but it beggars belief. Any respectful hotel would have given him a reduction on his room. I noticed this year when I was in the States there was a hotel which had a sign outside saying they gave discounts for heroes in the services and once in the airport a group of their soldiers were applauded by people.
I hope they're prosecuted for discrimination.

I can't recall the exact words but it brings to mind the saying 'No one loves a soldier until the enemy is at the gate' but even more:

Rudyard Kipling's 'Tommy'

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Amhrán na bhFiann
Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá Fá gheall ag Éirinn
Buidhean dár sluagh tar rúinn do ráinig chughainn
Fámhoídh bheírh saor
Sean-tír ár sinnsear feasta
Ní fágfar fá'n tíorán ná fa'n tráil
Anocht a theigeamh sa bhearna baoghail
Le gean ar Gaedhí chun báis nó saoghail
Le gunna sgréach: Fá lamhach na piléar
Seo Libh canaidh amhrán na bhFiann

Seo dhibh a cháirde duan oglaidh
Caithréimeach, bríoghmhar, ceolmhar
Ár dteinte cnámh go buacach táid
'S an spéir go min réaltógach
Is fionmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh tigheacht do'n ló
Fa ciúnas chaoimh na h-oidhche ar seol
Seo libh, canaídh amhrán na bhFiann

Cois banta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe
Ba bhuadhach ár rinnsear romhainn
Ag lámhach go tréan fá'n sár- bhrat séin
Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta
Ba dhúthchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil riar ó imirt áir
'Siubhal mar iad i gcoinnibh rámhaid
Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann

A buidhean nach fann d'fuil Ghaoidheal is Gall
Sinn breacadh lae na saoirse
Tá sgéimhle 's sgannradh í gcroidhthibh namhad
Roimh ranngaibh laochra ár dtíre
Ár dteinte is tréith gan spréach anois
Sin luinne ghlé san spéir anoir
'S an bíodhbha i raon na bpiléar agaibh
Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann

I recall that being played at the Atlanta Olympics Ionns when they won a Gold, I think in swimming.

Govangirl wrote:I didn't know of this contemptious story but it beggars belief. Any respectful hotel would have given him a reduction on his room. I noticed this year when I was in the States there was a hotel which had a sign outside saying they gave discounts for heroes in the services and once in the airport a group of their soldiers were applauded by people.
I hope they're prosecuted for discrimination.

I don't see why somebody who chooses to join the armed forces should be afforded a discount any more than anyone else, the fishing is far more dangerous but I don't see anyone suggesting that trawlermen should be getting a discount.
As for the Americans, most of the beggars we saw were or claimed to be veterans, not quite the rosy picture that's often painted.

Tosh wrote:the fishing is far more dangerous but I don't see anyone suggesting that trawlermen should be getting a discount.

Just asking Tosh, but exactly how many fishermen lost their lives this year in Britain?

Govangirl wrote:

Tosh wrote:the fishing is far more dangerous but I don't see anyone suggesting that trawlermen should be getting a discount.

Just asking Tosh, but exactly how many fishermen lost their lives this year in Britain?

as a percentage of the total number of British trawlermen?
What percentage of members of the British armed forces lost their lives?

I'm not sure it's a particularly humiliating climb down by the hotel chain - perhaps it has just been recognised that an error of judgement on this particular fella was made. Whilst, its completely unfair to tar everyone with the same brush, if there has been a disproportionate amount of 'serious incidents' (not sure what's meant by that) involving members of the armed forces you can hardly blame the hotel for taking precautions here.

bill, you would hardly welcome an unknown in to your home if there has been a history of 'his or her kind' causing unnenecessary discontent would you, regardless of how placid that individual may (turn out to) be?

Hume wrote: you would hardly welcome an unknown in to your home if there has been a history of 'his or her kind' causing unnenecessary discontent would you, regardless of how placid that individual may (turn out to) be?

Since when has an hotel become a home ?

Definition of Hotel...."a commercial establishment offering lodging to travelers and sometimes to permanent residents, and often having restaurants, meeting rooms, stores, etc., that are available to the general public. "

Also in my original comment I was trying to convey how our troops are treated,when there is no way an ethnic minority would be refused entry for that reason.
So what Hume is saying is that if an hotel had a rowdy party of Asians then they would be in their rights to ban ALL asians ?

I DO'NT THINK SO SOMEHOW..

bill wrote:So what Hume is saying is that if an hotel had a rowdy party of Asians then they would be in their rights to ban ALL asians ?

Rubbish..perhaps the particular part of my post you've highlighted above is a bit strong but I'm not saying that at all, hence the reason I used the phrase 'whilst, it is unfair to tar everyone with the some brush', which is in complete conflict with what you have accused me of saying.

What I am saying is that the hotel was probably justified in being cautions about who they let stay, based on the evidence of previous armed forces members' actions.

Just in the same way we'd be cautions in Campbeltown if we heard that the same team, whilst on a trip to the town to play the Pupils brought a bunch of unsavoury characters who robbed Viccy Wine, were due back again. Maybe not fair on the new bunch but understandable all the same. Sorry, only example I could think of but I'm sure you get my point.

My point was nothing to do with the armed forces as such.