Pontins guilty of racism.

RichardCoulter · 03-03-2021, 22:34

People with Irish surnames or Irish accents were systematically subject to racial discrimination by staff at Pontins for at least the past six years:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b1810387.html

Even Boris Johnson, having made racist remarks himself in the past, describes this as "unacceptable".

What I find interesting is that the Equalities & Human Rights Commission have resolved this by making the company sign a legally binding document to prevent this from happening in the future. When other racial groups have been subject to racism by companies on such a scale, don't they usually get prosecuted?

nomadking · 03-03-2021, 22:59

1) They are NOT a racial group. It is a lifestyle.
2) Is anyone truly going to deny they are undesirable?
3) If they are to be considered a racial group, then THEY are the ones that are racist, because they routinely exclude gorgers(ie non-travellers). To be that racially pure can only arise from being racist.

**Chris** · 03-03-2021, 23:10

I still can’t get over the idea that Pontins thinks there are people too rough to stay in one of their mould-stained, greasy, pube-strewn chalets.

**Damien** · 03-03-2021, 23:41

Why do the Irish get to avoid Pontins when the English still might have to go? Deeply unfair.

RichardCoulter · 03-03-2021, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

1) They are NOT a racial group. It is a lifestyle.
2) Is anyone truly going to deny they are undesirable?
3) If they are to be considered a racial group, then THEY are the ones that are racist, because they routinely exclude gorgers(ie non-travellers). To be that racially pure can only arise from being racist.

The law disagrees with your view that travellers/gypsies are not a racial group. However, this is a moot point, as Irish people obviously are and it is all Irish people who were systematically discriminated against.

I've met some decent people in the above groups & some vile people in these groups, much like any other group really.

---------- Post added at 22:43 ---------- Previous post was at 22:42 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I still can’t get over the idea that Pontins thinks there are people too rough to stay in one of their mould-stained, greasy, pube-strewn chalets.

Haha. I think it was Watchdog that did an undercover investigation of Pontins and you're not exaggerating!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

Why do the Irish get to avoid Pontins when the English still might have to go? Deeply unfair.

**Damien** · 03-03-2021, 23:47

On a serious note I wonder how well these places do? I would have assumed they would have gone the way of the British seaside towns such as Margate after cheap European flights became more common.

RichardCoulter · 04-03-2021, 02:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

On a serious note I wonder how well these places do? I would have assumed they would have gone the way of the British seaside towns such as Margate after cheap European flights became more common.

The ones that are left are now owned by Britannia Hotels. The shocking state of their accomodation shows that they are run on a shoestring:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/art...ab-mob-pontins

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...x_England.html

**Paul** · 04-03-2021, 07:03

So they were actually [allegedly] just blocking certain surnames.

Pierre · 04-03-2021, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I still can’t get over the idea that Pontins thinks there are people too rough to stay in one of their mould-stained, greasy, pube-strewn chalets.

I used to work opposite the one in Southport, or Stalag 17 as we used to call it.

papa smurf · 04-03-2021, 08:50

I done my time at Lytham st annes

---------- Post added at 07:50 ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

So they were actually [allegedly] just blocking certain surnames.

Yea the lucky buggers.

spiderplant · 04-03-2021, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

it is all Irish people who were systematically discriminated against.

Allegedly not.

"if a person had an Irish accent and was calling from Ireland, then strangely that was ok. But if it was an Irish accent and the postcode was for a caravan site or an industrial estate in Britain, then that was a big red flashing light."

https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/...-to-lie-893063

**Chris** · 04-03-2021, 11:33

It was members of the 'travelling community' that they were trying to keep out. It's not strange that they'd be ok with an Irish person traveling from their home in Ireland (though I can't think why anyone would want to). Just people who have a reputation, fairly or not, for making a mess and being antisocial. Which is strange, because that pretty much sums up the Pontins vibe.

Jaymoss · 04-03-2021, 12:25

I hate how the meaning of racism has changed to no leading mean race anymore

I would imagine most Irish Travellers are White and therefor Caucasian so if Pontins is owned by white people how can any discrimination between them and the travellers be racist as they are from the same race. Really grinds my gears

Carth · 04-03-2021, 12:38

My brother used to work at the Blackpool Pontins.

He was always telling us about the state of the place after 'certain types' of visitors. Kept him really busy at work as a maintenance chap though

RichardCoulter · 04-03-2021, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

So they were actually [allegedly] just blocking certain surnames.

It's not an allegation, they've admitted to doing it

---------- Post added at 11:49 ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Allegedly not.

"if a person had an Irish accent and was calling from Ireland, then strangely that was ok. But if it was an Irish accent and the postcode was for a caravan site or an industrial estate in Britain, then that was a big red flashing light."

https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/...-to-lie-893063

Interesting, I didn't see that reported by the BBC. Still an illegal practice though.

---------- Post added at 11:56 ---------- Previous post was at 11:49 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

It was members of the 'travelling community' that they were trying to keep out.[B]It's not strange that they'd be ok with an Irish person traveling from their home in Ireland (though I can't think why anyone would want to). Just people who have a reputation, fairly or not, for making a mess and being antisocial. Which is strange, because that pretty much sums up the Pontins vibe.

Yup. There was nothing to stop them from barring certain people who had caused trouble in the past or requiring anyone to leave who caused problems for the first time.

As you say though, it's hardly a wholesome environment anyway! The above links have people talking about others openly walking about smoking weed, drunken noisy parties wakimg people up at all hours etc.

A lot of pubs don't want travellers/gypsies in, but they aren't stupid enough to write it down as official policy!!

---------- Post added at 11:58 ---------- Previous post was at 11:56 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaymoss

I hate how the meaning of racism has changed to no leading mean race anymore

I would imagine most Irish Travellers are White and therefor Caucasian so if Pontins is owned by white people how can any discrimination between them and the travellers be racist as they are from the same race. Really grinds my gears

I think you're confusing prejudice based on skin colour & racism. It's also perfectly possible for a member of the same race to be racist to another of the same race, both practically & legally.