LONDON BERMONDSEY SQUARE HOTEL BANS ALCOHOL
London, 24 Muharram 1436/17 November 2014 (MINA) – A top London hotel has stopped serving alcohol after being reportedly taken over by a new owner who doesn’t wish to make profit from it, offering soft drinks to guests only.
“We no longer sell alcoholic beverages” and encourages a look at the hotel’s “comprehensive selection of soft drinks,” a statement by Bermondsey Square Hotel, Onislam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Monday.
Announced last week, the hotel’s decision affects the GB Grill & Bar at the four-star boutique hotel.
The decision was confirmed by employees as well.
“We don’t serve alcohol. The new investor doesn’t wish to make a profit with alcohol,” one staff member said.
Other media reports have claimed that the 80-room hotel has banned pork too, but the ban has not been confirmed yet.
While one staff member said he had “no idea about it”, others said they “aren’t sure for how long” they would go on selling pork.
“We change menus throughout our hotels all the time,” a spokeswoman said.
The new rules are expected to be welcomed by the Muslim minority and Middle East visitors.
Islam takes an uncompromising stand on prohibiting intoxicants. It forbids Muslims from drinking or even selling alcohol.
The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that gets people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink or something else.
A British study released in November 2010 found that alcohol is a more dangerous and lethal drug than heroin or crack cocaine.
Alcohol is blamed for the death of 195,000 people in the 27-nation European Union every year and more than 10,000 deaths were due to alcohol-related road accidents, with young people especially at risk.
It is also blamed for 7.4% of all ill-health and premature death in the EU, a 2006 EU-commissioned report said.
Mixed Reactions
While the hotel’s decision has been greeted with dismay by some clients, it didn’t bother others who expressed respect for the religious views of the owner, reportedly a Muslim.
“It doesn’t bother me what the owner wants to do,” Masterchef judge Wallace, who ran the hotel bar and grill until last year, was quoted by the Daily Mail.
“It’s his religious point of view not to serve alcohol and pork and I respect that.
“I stay at the hotel and if I want to drink I go elsewhere.”
Deeming it a “foolish” business decision, a customer wrote on community website London SE: Sounds like they’ve alienated 99 per cent of their clientele.
“I can’t quite believe this. Sounds like an April Fools joke [sic],” he added.
Announcing the new changes, general manager Robert Holland said in a statement: “Bermondsey Square Hotel is operated by Bespoke Hotels, as it has been since it opened in 2009.”
“We have recently made decisions to change some elements of the business, as any business owner is entitled to do.
“These are in the best interests of the future of the hotel. We always have, and continue to, welcome guests of all shapes, sizes and denomination.”
The manager added: “The hotel is privately owned and we do not discuss ownership of the properties Bespoke operates.”(T/P008/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
