(27 Dec 2014, 6:26 pm)MrFozz wrote After talking about the legality of pubs broadcasting football the other day, I saw an interesting notice in the Window of The Wheatsheaf earlier which said
Employees of the F.A, P.L, Sky Sports and Bein Sports are not allowed on these premises by management until further notice.
Can they actually do that???
As long as the pub is not specifically targeting groups whose characteristics are protected under the 2010 Equality Act - they can refuse to serve (or levy conditions upon) any person who enters their premises. For example, some bars require a certain dress-code while some shops have notices stating 'only two children allowed in the shop at one time'. The latter might be challenged on the grounds of age as age is a protected characteristic (although targeting children isn't necessarily discriminatory) but the requirement of one conforming to certain standard of dress is not discriminatory.
Barring employees of the FA, PL, Sky Sports or BT Sports would not be classed as discriminatory as it does not specifically target any cohort protected under the Equality Act. So, yes, the pub can actually do that.