§ MR. A. M. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that on a recent occasion, at the Central Hotel, Portsmouth, refreshments were refused to Regular Soldiers and Volunteers on the ground that they were wearing Her Majesty's uniform; and, whether the Military Authorities contemplate taking any steps with regard to the renewal of a licence for the Central Hotel, at Portsmouth?
§ * MR. BRODRICKSoldiers in uniform were not excluded from the public bar of the hotel in question, but from a bar which was alleged to be a private bar. The law on this question was stated as follows by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Monmouth, when Home Secretary:—
It was not legal for the innkeeper to exclude the soldier, but it was not to be understood that he could be compelled to admit him into every room. The wearers of the Queen's uniform, so far from being subject to such exclusion, ought to be treated with special honour.Steps are being taken locally with regard to renewal of the licence of the Central Hotel, and meanwhile the house has been placed "out of bounds."