Cumin Cottage in Weaverham denied access to woman's guide dog

Jessica Driver and her guide dog Kenzie were asked to leave the Cumin Cottage in High Street, after entering with family to celebrate her graduation from Liverpool University.

The restaurant has since apologised for the incident and offered Jessica a free meal but she is now hoping to raise awareness of assistance dog owners’ rights.

Jessica’s mum, Stephanie, said: ‘As soon as we walked in the restaurant, we were told no dogs.

“We tried to explain Kenzie is a guide dog and has the right to be in there, but the waiter said he did not want to clean up after the dog and we were not allowed in.

“The guide dogs are life-changers - Jessica wouldn’t have been able to go to university if it wasn’t for Kenzie.”

Jessica Driver wearing a t-shirt designed to raise awareness

Stephanie’s younger daughter Melissa, who is also a guide dog owner, tried to show the waiter her ID that explains what access guide dogs have.

When Jessica’s family got up to leave, the waiter backtracked and said they were welcome to stay.

“By that point the damage was done,” Jessica, 24, said.

“We’d made a big deal out of getting together as a family and celebrating, but I was left anxious and upset.

“When you walk into a strange environment, you can’t see much at all and it’s disorientating.

“When someone comes at you at such a vulnerable time it throws you off balance and it’s embarrassing.”

In England, Scotland and Wales, the Equality Act means guide dog and other assistance dog owners have the right to enter most services, premises and vehicles with their dog.

Cumin Cottage, Weaverham (Google)

Sadly, this is not the first access refusal for Jessica and Melissa.

The Guide Dogs charity said 75 per cent of assistance dog owners have been refused access to a restaurant, shop or taxi - this is almost always illegal.

To raise awareness of the special relationship between a guide dog and its owner, Stephanie has worked closely with her graphic designer friend to create a logo with the strapline: ‘It’s not just a canine… it’s a lifeline’.

It’s hoped this will also raise vital money for charity.

The image includes all the service dog colours.

A spokesperson for the Cumin Cottage said: “They said ‘we’ve got a dog’, so we said we didn’t allow pets.

“As soon as they said it was a guide dog, we said it was fine.”