Joanne Hewitson, a 31-year-old blind woman, was left "livid" and "shaking" after staff at a Wetherspoons pub in Hartlepool demanded identification for her guide dog, Rosie. The incident occurred last month when Hewitson visited the Ward Jackson pub for breakfast with her partner, Craig. Despite Rosie wearing a harness with a nationally recognised logo and behaving impeccably under the table, a staff member insisted on seeing an ID card, claiming it was pub policy.
First outing since injury
Hewitson said the experience was particularly distressing as it was her first time out since fracturing her back in January. She had been using new Meta glasses to read the menu when the staff member approached. "I said, 'I've never been asked, I don't have it with me.' She said, 'It's our policy, you can't come in unless you have identification,'" Hewitson recounted. She explained that by law, guide dog owners are not required to carry ID, but the staff member continued to demand it, leading Hewitson to feel unwelcome.
Leaving the pub
Hewitson, her partner, and Rosie left the pub due to the confrontation. "I felt like I was at a disadvantage compared to any able-bodied customer who can just walk in and order their food with no problems," she said. Hewitson noted that she had previously visited Wetherspoons with Rosie without issues. "When I see her, she is my eyes. We come as a package deal, she is like an extension of me. I can't leave my house without her," she added.
Social media response
After posting about the incident on social media and reporting it to Guide Dogs UK, Hewitson said many other assistance dog owners shared similar experiences. "A lot of assistance dogs owners commented on my video saying they have experienced the same thing," she said. Wetherspoons spokesperson Eddie Gershon apologised, stating, "Guide dogs are welcome into our pubs, without the need for documentation. On this occasion we made an error." The area manager is set to meet Hewitson to apologise face to face.
