Punters rally for for the Queen Anne
More than 600 people have signed a petition in support of the landlord of Maidstone’s only gay pub who was served notice to leave after a dispute over Foster’s lager.
Ron Hall took over the Queen Anne in January but this month the brewery gave him 28 days to vacate the building in Queen Anne Road.
He believes he is being kicked out over a dispute about a barrel of Foster’s.
He said he bought the lager from a cash and carry warehouse, as allowed in his contract, but did not inform the brewery soon enough.
Mr Hall, 39, said: “It made me cry reading some of the comments on the petition.
“I didn’t think anyone would give two hoots about me going but they do.”
He added: “I went to a meeting thinking I would be signing a five-year lease but instead I got notice. It was a shock.
“They are using the excuse that there’s no trust but I didn’t break any trust.
“I met my first love, Simon, in this pub and we lasted a good six years. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support.”
Delivery driver and regular at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender venue, Farrah Herbert, set up the petition.
Ms Herbert, who is transgender, said: “It’s really important Ron stays as landlord so the LGBT community has somewhere safe to go.
“We don’t know if the brewery wants to put a landlord in who will turn it into a straight bar or a sports venue or the sort of place that will attract people who won’t be accepting of the LGBT community.
“There are very few places we can go on a Saturday night and know we’re not going to get hassled, beaten up or abused.”
Catherine Button, business development manager for Admiral Taverns, said a decision was made to end the licence agreement with Mr Hall and business partner Terry Boxall.
“We have offered sole tenancy to Terry,” she said. “Our focus is on ensuring a sustainable future for the pub.”
Mr Hall is investigating an appeal.