‘Turned away for looking drunk’: Disabled man’s shock claim after local pub visit

A wheelchair bound man with a terminal illness claims he was discriminated against after being refused entry to a popular South East Queensland pub for ‘looking drunk’.

Woody Point resident Bill Nolles who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease said he was recently refused service at a Bribe Island Pub. Picture: Lachie Millard

A wheelchair bound Queenslander with a visible terminal illness claims he was discriminated against after being refused entry to a popular pub over the weekend because he “looked drunk.”

Bill Nolles, 52, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and planned to ring in the New Year with a beer at the Blue Pacific Hotel in Woorim, south of Bribie Island, on Sunday afternoon.

But Mr Nolles says those plans were quickly foiled when pub staff turned him away at the door.

“I was turned away because I look like I’m drunk,” Mr Nolles said.

“They just said, ‘yeah, nah, sorry.’ And I was disgusted.

“I just wanted to go for a drink. I’ve got nothing else to do because I live on my own and have got no one with me.”

Woody Point resident 52 year old Bill Nolles who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease claims he was recently refused service at a Bribe Island Pub he believes due to his disability. Picture Lachie Millard

Mr Nolles was diagnosed with MND - a rare medical condition that slowly damages parts of the nervous system, weakening the muscles and causing eventual paralysis - about five years ago.

But despite his visible impairment and efforts to explain his disease, Mr Nolles says staff refused to let him into the pub.

He suspects part of the reason was also due to his large, Harley-Davidson-esque mobility scooter.

“I think the scooter was a problem,” he said.

“It is a little bit bigger than a normal mobility scooter, like the Harley-Davidson of mobility scooters, but it’s still legal.

“I’ve had a big decline with my legs and am having trouble walking now, it’s awful but I knew it was coming.

“I’m allowed to ride the scooter through Woolies shopping centre isles but not in a place like that.”

Bill Nolles was diagnosed with MND five years ago. Picture: Lachie Millard

Although bitterly disappointed at the incident, Mr Nolles refused to let the bad experience quash his spirit.

“I’m an ex-school groundsman, so I’m super tough,” he said.

“I’ve got a young heart and that job helped me with that, I probably wouldn’t have lasted (through my diagnosis) without it.

“I look that way (drunk) because that’s my issue, my condition, not much you can do about that.”

The Blue Pacific Hotel, which is operated by the ALH Group, was asked about the incident but said it had “no comment” on the matter.

The Blue Pacific Hotel, Bribie Island. Picture: Facebook

Bad online reviews of the pub, which advertises its wheelchair accessibility, increased over the past two months, with many patrons complaining about unfriendly service and excessive wait times due to understaffing.

“Shocking service today. Ordered lunch at 1pm come 3:15pm and no food. Asked for a refund and left. Others around us also complained. 25 minutes in line to get a drink. Felt sorry for the staff,” Monty Thompson wrote.

Connor Whitehouse commented that he was forced to clear his own pre-booked table and those around it, in a bid to help the overwhelmed staff.

“But that wasn’t the biggest battle, we ordered our meals and waited 1 hour and 37 minutes for them. And there was barely anyone else in the pub. Then we’re told there's no chips. The bar was also missing a number of basics like blue curacao, captain morgan, redbull, no coffee beans for espresso martinis.”

Patron Amanda Hinze said her husband had been turned away from the dining service due to staff shortages, while Nick Simpson said he witnessed the table next to him “send their kids to the IGA next door to get food to tie them over” while waiting for meals.

When asked about the staffing levels and possible management changes the Blue Pacific Hotel said it had no comment.