Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Pub worker sacked over rant at awards
An acceptance speech by a member of staff representing the Westport Bar in Arbroath turned into a four-letter outburst when the speaker turned on other guests at the event.
Police and paramedics were called to the Carnoustie Golf Hotel on Sunday night during the Angus Business Awards after a separate incident in which a man reportedly thew a chair at another guest.
Today, the pub’s owner Karen Kennedy said that the staff member — who has not been named — involved in the rant had been dismissed with immediate effect.
Karen said: “I’m incredibly embarrassed at what has happened and I wish to sincerely apologise to everyone who was affected.
“This does not reflect well on the bar and I’m deeply upset by what has happened. “I’m gutted that we’ve been stripped of our award as a result of one individual’s actions.”
The pub had taken the award for the best licensed premises but was stripped of the honour later that night.
Karen said that she was sorry if other people’s enjoyment of the ceremony was spoilt.
She said: “Sadly, the outburst was by a member of my staff. I wasn’t at the event but I was told about it subsequently.
“I have taken immediate action and I have sacked responsible.
“I don’t know what was said but I do know it was out of order and totally not acceptable in any circumstances.
“Three members of my staff were at the event and the others tried to get the individual responsible to shut up and get him off the stage.
“It was then suggested that the representatives of the pub should leave and they did so immediately.”
Ms Kennedy said that she was keen to point out that although there had also been reports of fighting at the event, her staff were not involved in it, adding: “I understand that was a separate matter completely.”
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland attended at a hotel in Carnoustie at 9.20pm on Sunday following reports of a very minor disturbance between two men. An inquiry was carried out and there was no further police action.” the staff member
THE owner of a pub involved in a foul-mouthed rant at an awards ceremony has sacked the member of staff involved.