A gay couple claim they were branded “revolting” and chucked out of a pub – because they shared a KISS.
Dylan Morris was celebrating his birthday with boyfriend Darren Barnett when they exchanged a smooch next to the bar.
But landlord of the St Levan Inn, in Plymouth, Devon, is alleged to have told the couple that if they continued they would have to leave.
The pair, who are both law students, say he explained that he did not like “that sort of behaviour”.
London-based Darren, 22, said: “The landlord said what we did was revolting.
“All of Dylan’s family were there and they were really angry. It was a very stressful situation.
“We are not happy at all with it. This is the first time something like this has happened to me – what we were doing should have been fine. All we did was share a kiss.”
Concerned Dylan, 20, from Plymouth, wrote on Twitter after the incident: “Cannot believe that I was kicked out of my family pub for kissing my boyfriend. Absolutely disgraceful.”
The incident has sparked fury on social media with several users condemning the pub’s reaction.
Darren has contacted Plymouth City Council to complain. The couple say they are still happy to go to other pubs in the city.
Darren said: “We will definitely not be going back there again but it is just one man.
“Even the barman looked quite shocked. When we went elsewhere it was fine.”
Landlord of the Levan Inn, Paul Bodenham, denied that the incident had anything to do with the couple’s sexual orientation but vowed to take the same action if it happened again.
He said: “I have been a landlord for 30 years and have never seen behaviour like it. This couple were lip-locking and tongue twisting each other and it was disgusting.
“There was a complaint from one of my customers. So I said to them, ‘if you want to do that again, do it outside.’
“But I did not throw them out. I just told them to go outside if they wanted to act in that manner. Then they started causing all kinds of problems.
“It would be the same if it was a man and a woman kissing like that. I have nothing against gay people – half of my darts team here are lesbians.
“I don’t do social media so I haven’t seen what people are saying. But I would definitely do the same again.
“Behaviour like that in a pub is unacceptable. It was out of order. I am trying to run a public house and I can’t have things like that going on.”
