2nd March 2015

Wetherspoons Call Time on the Tuesday Disco for People With Learning Disabilities

Hundreds of people with learning disabilities are upset and confused at the decision by Wetherspoon to cancel their city centre ‘ACE discos’, that have been running every Tuesday for the past 9 years. Wetherspoon the owners of Lloyds Bar in Concert Square have decided that the disco is no longer for them and have decided to close their doors on the hugely successful Tuesday afternoon event, despite the fact that managers at Lloyds bar admit takings for food and bar are sometimes double that of any other day.

A walk through Concert Square any Tuesday afternoon and you will find most bars either closed or deserted that is until you get to Lloyds bar. Lloyds bar has played host for the last 9 years to the hugely successful ‘ACE disco’. When hundreds of people with learning disabilities escorted by their parents, carers or support workers meet up with old friends, have a meal together, dance, sing and let their hair down. The events are organized by local social enterprise ‘Active Community Enterprise’ (ACE).

ACE manager and organiser of the ‘ACE discos’ Steve Percival said ‘he was shocked by the sudden decision’. ‘We have always had a great relationship with the manager and staff at Lloyds bar. The clients we support, wash dishes in the kitchen, clear up the tables, glass collect, take on the door, and even sometimes do the DJ’ ing at the disco. Any profits we make on the door, is then paid in wages to our clients who work there. The staff at Lloyds are really supportive of our clients. We bring in hundreds of people every week, who buy their lunch and spend money at the bar. We have people coming to these events from right across Merseyside and the North West, because there is nothing like it anywhere, where people with learning disabilities can be themselves and have a truly great time. Then last Tuesday the area manager visited the disco and I received a phone call the next the saying “The area manager says its not the type of thing Wetherspoon do and March 10th will be the last disco we can have”. We are upset our clients will be devastated’.

PLEASE LET WETHERSPOON CEO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

COPY THIS TO jhutson@jdwetherspoon.co.uk AND SEND IT TO YOUR CONTACTS

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