Wetherspoon defends assistance dogs policy

Wetherspoon has denied reports its dogs policy could be breaking the law.

The pub group issued a press statement today criticising the BBC of having given a “misleading impression” on its dogs policy over the weekend.

The BBC had published an article stating JD Wetherspoon’s policy to refuse to serve disabled customers who do not have photo ID for their assistance dogs could be breaking the law, according to an equality watchdog.

The charity Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) told the BBC that from its understanding of the law, the pub chain’s policy was discriminatory and that no identification was legally required.

In response, Wetherspoon clarified it allows assistance dogs, but asks for proof of training documentation from ADUK.

The pub chain said it has taken advice from senior counsel and understands that it should make “reasonable adjustments” to accommodate those with disabilities, while also considering the safety of employees and the public.

Wetherspoon pointed out it had seen “a big increase in dog incidents, even though only assistance dogs are allowed”.

In 2025, the pub group revealed 15 staff had been bitten by dogs, compared to one in 2020.

While the chain agreed assistance dogs should be permitted in pubs, it admitted there were sometimes challenges to identifying these correctly.

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “This is a complex area for pubs and other organisations. The interests of those with disabilities need to be protected while, at the same time,  employees and the public have to be protected from a substantial increase in dog incidents.

“ADUK is an organisation which itself demands high levels of training for assistance dogs, for which it issues documentary proof.

“Yet it is offering, in effect, legal advice to the public, which states that pub companies should not ask for documentation.

“Instead, according to ADUK, pub staff should be asked to make a judgement, after a dog is already in the pub, as to whether it is trained or not.

“It is inevitable, as a matter of common sense, that ADUK’s advice, if followed, will lead to an increase in dog incidents in pubs, and may  already have done so, in the absence of sensible checks in advance of entry.

“In contrast, Wetherspoon’s policy clearly provides greater protection for employees and the public, and is consistent with established regulations in areas such as proof of age in pubs and blue badges for parking.”

JD Wetherspoon operates nearly 800 pubs.