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General · 27 August 2026

Wetherspoon apologises after refusing service to disabled man they thought was drunk

Wetherspoon apologises after refusing service to disabled man they thought was drunk

Photo: Martin Pettitt (CC BY 2.0)

Matthew Ball, 22, was mistakenly refused another drink at a Caerphilly Wetherspoon pub because his rare neurological condition affects his speech and balance. He has Niemann-Pick disease type C, which also affects his mobility, leading staff to believe he was intoxicated. JD Wetherspoon has apologised for the mistake and said they look forward to him returning.

Reported by Metro.co.uk · How we write briefs

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Who is JD Wetherspoon? Can pubs refuse service? What is Niemann-Pick disease?

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