'Gay bar had ban on straights'

The manager of a gay bar was ordered to discriminate against heterosexuals and even told to ban a straight couple for kissing, an industrial tribunal heard today.

Assistant manager Angelo Vigil of the G-A-Y bar in Soho said boss Jeremy Joseph told him to deny entry to heterosexual couples or mixed groups of straight and gay revellers.

He also claimed the bar flouted health and safety rule by ignoring restrictions on the numbers allowed in.

When he complained Mr Vigil said he suffered bullying and harassment and was threatened with the sack, the Central London employment tribunal heard.

Mr Vigil, who quit, claims victimisation, harassment and protection under whistle-blowing laws.