The group was told ‘no Travellers’ (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Twelve pubgoers who were refused service because they were Irish Travellers have won thousands in compensation from Greene King.

The leading chain has apologised for discriminating against the group, which was ordered to leave before they could even sit down.

Coincidentally, they were visiting to watch Tyson Fury take on Dillian Whyte for the WBC heavyweight title on TV.

Nicknamed ‘The Gypsy King’, Fury has spoken out many times about his pride of his Irish traveller heritage on both his mother and father’s sides.

When the six members of the group challenged the decision from staff at the Rose and Crown in Woodford, London, the manager is said to have told them ‘that’s what the company says, “no Travellers”’.

The others were told not to bother turning up as they wouldn’t be served. 

After legal action was launched, Greene King settled out of court with an undisclosed sum and a public apology on its website.

In a statement, the firm said ‘this behaviour is contrary to all that we at Greene King believe in’.

They tried to visit the Rose and Crown in Woodford, London (Picture: Google)

‘We have a commitment to “Calling Time on Racism” and we are working hard across our business to make sure that we all consistently live up to these commitments and values’, it read.

Bosses added that the staff responsible had since had ‘full training in this area, in addition to our company-wide efforts to promote inclusion and diversity and eliminate racism in our company’.

But the group’s lawyer, Martin Howe of Howe and Co., has warned: ’It is time that Greene King turns its words into action’.

‘It is not enough to issue statements “Calling Time on Racism” if Greene King’s staff continue to discriminate against any racial or ethnic group’, he cautioned.

‘Discrimination against Irish Travellers remains only too prevalent and is regarded by some as the last bastion of acceptable racism.

‘Until these ugly unacceptable instances of blatant racism against Travellers are stopped, significant settlements like this will continue to the shame companies who engage in racist conduct.’

Yvonne MacNamara, chief executive of the Traveller Movement, said the ruling should ‘serve as a warning to other companies’.

She welcomed Greene King’s anti-racism commitment and said her charity would ‘act as a critical friend to the company to ensure they uphold both their legal obligations’.

Briefly detailing the settlement, Greene King said: ‘We have apologised unreservedly to the 12 individuals involved in this incident, paid them compensation as well as their legal costs and have made a charitable donation at their request.’

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The group has won thousands in compensation after being told ‘no Travellers’.