A BOWLING chain has launched an investigation after door staff refused to let women in because they were travellers.

Bowlplex yesterday said it had begun the inquiry after the exchange between the women and two contracted door staff on Friday night was captured on video.

Irish traveller Roseanne Gallagher, 22, said she and friends had planned to celebrate a birthday in the Ozone Leisure Park venue, next to Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, but were left “humiliated” after being told they weren’t allowed in because they were travellers. 

But Bowlplex commercial director Ian Bennett yesterday said this went “totally against” the firm’s policies.

He said: “I have seen this clip and the first thing to say is that it is factually incorrect to say [banning travellers] is a Bowlplex policy. 


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“As I speak, there is now an investigation going on to understand how that has come about. We welcome everyone into our premises.”

When asked if the firm would apologise to Miss Gallagher and her friends, he said: “Until we finish our investigation, I cannot comment on any individuals.”

Miss Gallagher, who lives at Redbridge Hollow travellers site and recorded the exchange between herself and the member of staff, said: “We were told travellers had caused problems before and so they had banned all travellers. It made us feel humiliated and ruined the day. 

“There were plenty of people around and so we left feeling very low.

“This shouldn’t happen. 

“We know they can turn us away if they want, but just being a traveller is no reason to do that.”

In the video the member of the staff on the door at Bowlplex can be heard saying: “We have had problems with travellers, I am being honest with you. Bowlplex, not me, have banned all travellers from being in here.”

He said it was because last year the venue had allowed a large group of travellers to enter who had caused “a lot of trouble”.

“Basically, we don’t want that trouble again,” he added.

Miss Gallagher can be heard responding: “You said you banned all travellers.

“If you banned a group of Asians[...] would you tell the next group that came along that they can’t come in because they are Asian? 

“Would you say that? 

“That is racial discrimination.”

The member of staff replies: “If the management tell us to have them out, we’ll have them out.”
Equality and Human Rights Commission spokeswoman Valentine Murombe-Chivero said: “Gypsies and

Travellers are a racial group as defined  by the Equality Act 2010.  In refusing admittance to a group of people because of their ethnicity, an establishment engages in an act of unlawful race discrimination. 

“This is set out in section 29 of the Equality Act which makes it clear that it is unlawful to discriminate against a person when providing a service because of a protected characteristic.”

Miss Gallagher said police attended on Friday but asked the group to move on. Police did not comment about this yesterday.

Bowlplex has since released a statement apologising for what happened. Read it here.