The County — Restaurant in Scotland

I saw the discriminatory application of pub policy by the County Inn pub in Peebles tonight. Within one hour of my stay a group of three women arrived. One of the group members was visibly so drunk that she fell to ground three times. She banged her head and back against the table, rolled over and she could hardly stand up! Yet, she never got a rebuke or caution from staff. In fact, they continued to serve her with more alcohol!

Another customer, a Black African came in, whom I happen to know. As friendly as he was, he joined a lady to dance. Everything seems so nice, fine until this guy fell to the floor. The lady and her friend ( a gentleman) she was dancing with and others helped him to get up. From my table a few yards away, I was impressed by the way he has been helped.

Then everything changed for the worse or the ugly. The staff asked him to vacate as soon as he was on his feet without giving him a chance to recover or reassess himself. I was surprised at this over enthusiastic response to an innocuous situation for the reason that, there is an unequal application of penalties here. More importantly, one with the proverbial racial undertone. A White lady who had been visibly drunk to the point of falling and rolling over and was continued to be served with alcohol. And a Black male who had only fallen once and being asked to leave!

The human rights journalist and activist in me ring alarm bells that this is so unfair and unjust. I intervened to let the staff know that it seems unfair and pleaded with them to give the chap a reprieve. I also noted that this looks discriminatory to me that a White person was never asked to leave when she looked even more drunk than the Black chap. To be fair, the staff explained that he was not aware about the lady's case bacause he had not witnessed it. This was true.

However, during this exchange things got even worse. The publican arrived at about the same time as the police. I raised my concern with the publican, but he was defensive and impervious to reason. Just at that point the Black African was draged along the floor and way outside on the pavement. I, as many others, was shocked that a chap who have been merry and dancing a few moments ago was now being dragged along the floor like a pig to the slaughter house (not my words, but others)! The poor chap was handed over to the police.

I was okay with that, with the knowledge and hope that they (the police) are better placed to help the chap. I had some burning questions to raise with the publican, though. First, I asked about the uneven handedness of the way the Black chap has been treated by the pub. Second, whether or not this is unfair, unjust and discriminatory, given that a White person had behaved worse than this chap. The publican was defensive and dismissive of my concerns, saying that the chap's intoxication is definitely not alcohol induced, and insinuating that it is drugs related. When I challenged his belief, he said his analysis was based on his experience. As it happened, a lady, whom I think have some expertise in such matters and have been attending to the chap when the police arrived, told the publican that the Black chap is a neighbour of hers and he has never and ever taken drugs. She made it clear that the chap just has an intolerance to alcohol.

This case highlights the banal nature of racial prejudice, and why we as a society should be vigilant in calling it out and addressing it. A Black male was drunk, fell to the floor whilst dancing, and penalised by being dragged on the ground, and handed to the police. In contrast, a White female who fell more than once, suffered injury as a result continued to be served alcohol. Then we have a White male publican justifying that mistreatment was based on his perception that the Black male's intoxication is due to drugs. You read whatever into this, think...

My friend and I recently turned 18 and went in here early one evening for a drink whilst she was visiting me at uni. Unfortunately we felt very upset throughout our time here, and ultimately only stayed for one drink. When we approached the bar we were instantly made to feel uncomfortable by what we both perceived was cold and rude behaviour from a young woman who seemed to be judging us and our intentions. Her attitude towards us was very different than towards other customers and didn't seem happy at all to be serving us. We both ordered a drink and both provided driving licence ID as expected - no problem. However, she turned to another customer/worker at the bar and seemed to whisper and mutter under her breath as well as rolling her eyes as we were still stood at the bar which I thought was very unprofessional. Throughout our time she kept looking across in our direction and seemed to chat to another member of staff who glanced at us, we later returned our glasses to the bar and left. I wanted to build up the confidence to ask if there was a problem on the way out, but I was too nervous and didn't want to make a scene. I am very aware as a young person myself about the issues of people these days having fake ID's or attempting to buy alcohol underage. However, my friend and I were very responsible and were judged from the moment we walked in. It took a lot of confidence for us both to go in in the first place and I felt like going up and showing pictures of my 18th birthday for proof and a second form of ID. It's such a shame as I had been into this place a few years back and enjoyed a meal with my grandparents who live locally, and we were very pleased the pub had a pool table. I know this is not a common complaint but I want to speak for myself and others who are made to feel this way. Not all teenagers are bad! We are just two young women finding our way through early adulthood and trying to...

With what to start. Went there with my partner, after a long trip. We were looking for a restaurant with good food, asked around and someone told us about the place nearby. Went in, sat somewhere cause no welcoming. Decided what to order and went for the bar to order. Drinks and food. Ordered a rump steak which i was told they dont have, changed it with sirloin for myself and fish for my partner, 2 regular coke's and a coffe. I understood the fact that i had to wait a bit in front of the bar to order, but was instructed that the food will take 30 mins as it was busy( was not), anyway...to start off my coffe arrived which was slight brown in color more like a tea than coffe, asked for another as that was terrible...no trbl there as the waitress was kind to my request. After waiting for almost 30 mins the waitress came and told me they dont have that steak either. Changed my order for chicken. Took ages till it arrived, went to take a glass of wine ..had to wait again 5 min in front of the bar. Same waiting time for changing my coffe but nevermind that. Food came, srry to say but it was average in taste, less in presentation but ate it cause i was really hungry. After eating we sat there with the dishes in front of us till we left the location. What bothered me most was the fact that the price for a steak is obv higher than a chicken dish, the difference was around 3.5 pounds but no one came to give that amount or even ask if i want it back. Well anyway...i'm sorry honestly but as tourists we were disappointed. After all this i do want to mention to the owner that if you dont have enough staff on the floor maybe you should try to employ some, or reduce the coverage of the floor for a single person. You had one girl running around for 5 tables scattered everywhere in the venue, strugling to cover the floor, the bar, and all service, running food and drinks...i mean...no...