Ex-landlady attacks men-only rule

Jan Price said the policy reminded her of prejudice 40 years ago

A woman who was refused entry to a 'men-only' bar says she wants to see the policy banned.

Ex-pub landlady Jan Price said she was stopped from going into one of the bars at Penydarren Social Club in Merthyr Tydfil.

Mrs Price, who was at the club to rehearse for a charity dance show, said the rule was "outrageous".

But Paul Willis, secretary of the club, said the policy was legal and ensured women did not hear "bad language".

Mrs Price, who herself is a former pub landlady, said her experience at the club took her back 40 years, when she regularly battled prejudice.

YOUR VIEWS I'm...sick to the back teeth of being eyed up, chatted up and groped. A bar just for girls who want a night out free of this caper would be splendid. Similarly, men should have space to do... uh... men things. Sophie Shinigami, Belfast Are men-only club bars outdated?

"I didn't think such rules were allowed these days," she said.

Mrs Price, of Aberaman, near Aberdare, said she had gone to the bar to get some drinks when she was stopped by a staff member and told she wasn't allowed in.

"The notice on the wall said no women were allowed in this bar. I think it's outrageous, it's ridiculous," she said.

But Mr Willis said the policy was legal because a bill to remove the exemption of men-only bars in sex discrimination laws has yet to be brought in.

"Surely if this lady is trying to be Emily Pankhurst she should do her homework," he said.

"This rule, if you want to call it that, has been in force in the club since it was built 35 years ago and I fully uphold that decision because as far as I'm concerned it works very well."

He added: "In the Valleys there are obviously heated discussions that are carried out and men-only bars are very appropriate that if bad language arises, the lady is not subjected to listen to this."