In almost all cases, individuals or organisations running entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres, restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés must not discriminate unlawfully in the way they provide their services, whether in refusing to provide a service, providing a lower standard of service, or offering a service on different terms from those offered to others.
In some cases, private members’ clubs can restrict membership and access to services to people belonging to a specific group or groups.
Like all service providers, owners of entertainment venues must make reasonable adjustments to enable customers with disabilities to use their services.
Example
A restaurant manager asks a homosexual couple holding hands across the table to leave the restaurant, while allowing a heterosexual couple acting in the same way to remain. This may constitute direct discrimination.
Example
A cinema manager refuses to sell a ticket to a man using a wheelchair. She tells the man that, if there is a fire, his presence could put other people’s lives at risk because he may block their exit. This may be disability-related discrimination.