An Army veteran, who is blind, was left shaken after being refused service and kicked out of a bar.

66-year-old John Hardy from Somerset, England, is an Army veteran who served in the first Gulf War as a medic before retiring from military service and losing sight to retinal artery occlusion in 2014.

According to the reports, John was on his way to visit his granddaughter last week when he decided to stop for a drink at the Tynte Arms, a pub in Bridgwater.

Before he could even place his order, however, the veteran was allegedly “humiliated” and “belittled” by staff who ordered him and his guide dog to leave.

“It’s humiliating and belittling. I was treated like not even a second class citizen, like not even a human being, it’s horrible,” the 66-year-old said as he recalled being told to leave after explaining to whom he believed to be the landlord that he needs his guide dog to get around because he is blind.

“If I’d gone in the pub drunk or rowdy and they’d refused to serve me, fine. If I’d gone in with just an ordinary dog not a guide dog and they say we can’t have animals then I’d accept that but Sidney is how I get around.”

Hardy added: “It left me with this pent-up anger and frustration inside, that just churns you up. I’m a veteran and I’m quite used to a battle and I’m not going to let somebody turn me away when I have a right to be there.”

The veteran also explained that he has been completely dependent on his guide dog for several years while insisting that Sidney gives him the confidence he needs to go into public.

After the man’s story went viral, a spokesperson for the pub in question allegedly insisted they were closed at the time they refused service to the veteran. The front door, however, remained open. Furthermore, the pub’s website suggests that they are open all day.

“I just want him to follow his responsibilities under the law. He has a responsibility to treat everybody equally,” Hardy concluded while referring to the Equality Act 2010 which permits guide dogs in establishments such as pubs and restaurants.

“You can’t discriminate against somebody if they’re a person of color or because of their gender or sexuality and they shouldn’t be discriminating against people with a disability.”

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