Lancaster Brewery bosses say that the booking “was not terminated due to ‘woke pressure’ or ‘leftie loons'”
Bosses at a brewery have defended their decision to call off a Reform UK event at the venue.
The political party had initially booked a “business event” at Lancaster Brewery in July. But, brewery management has since cancelled the event and defended their choice.
Lancaster Brewery bosses say that the booking “was not terminated due to ‘woke pressure’ or ‘leftie loons'”.
Instead, they stated that the booking should never have been accepted in the first place”.
The venue claimed it had been subjected to “negative reviews, aggressive emails and online hostility” since cancelling the booking.
The brewery posted on Facebook: “Last week, we cancelled a booking for a July event after discovering it was for the Reform Party. Since then, we have received a wave of negative reviews, aggressive emails and online hostility.
“To be clear: We do not host events for any political party. That has been our policy for years. We have quietly turned down approaches from across the political spectrum and have always tried to remain non-political and non-judgmental.
“This event was not cancelled because of “woke pressure” or “leftie loons”. It was cancelled because it should never have been accepted in the first place. The booking came through as a generic business event. Had it been clear from the outset that it was political, we would not have taken it.
“We understand people have strong views, but directing anger at a small independent brewery for enforcing a long standing policy seems misplaced.”
Lancaster Brewery’sorigins date back to 2002 when owners Phil Simpson and Matt Jackson bought the Water Witch in Lancaster.
In addition to the brewery in Lancaster, they also own a group of venues across Lancashire and Cumbria, including the Sun Hotel and Bar in Lancaster, the Mill at Ulverston, the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in Barrow, the Palatine in Morecambe, and the Lancaster Spirit and Distillery Company.
