Bookshop to ban DUP members from its new cafe

A BELFAST bookshop has said it will ban DUP members from a planned new cafe over the party’s stance on same-sex marriage.

Belfast Books on the York Road has said party members will not be welcome in the venue which is being built on their first floor when it opens due to the party’s controversial position.

The DUP oppose same-sex marriage and used a petition of concern to stop it being passed in the Assembly.

Belfast Books (right) aims to raise £15k through a crowdfunding campaign to open the cafe.

In a statement managing director John Junk said: “I’ve had a good working relations with some local DUP elected representatives and grassroots members of the party, and work alongside them on various community forums.

“But the party’s stance on equal marriage doesn’t sit well with us, so their elected representatives will be banned from the cafe we’re planning if we raise the money in our crowdfunder to open it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, their elected representatives won’t be banned from the bookshop as it would have little effect.

“I think I’m right in saying that in over four years of us being open, not one of their elected representatives have darkened our door outside of election time.”

The shop’s stance drew a mixed response on social media, with Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie, saying: “Poor decision... I don’t agree with DUP on most things but this is counter-productive.”

Another person said: “It’s hardly Waterstones or Easons, but considering that the DUP effectively withhold the rights of same-sex partners to marry as they do in other parts of Britain it’s a well justified small token gesture.”

It is not the first time the store has taken a stand, they stopped donating to and purchasing books from Oxfam earlier this year.