British gay
couple locked out of country hotel

In a Fawlty Towers-like experience, a British gay couple was locked out overnight by a rural innkeeper and then threatened with what they thought was a gun the next morning. The two men had traveled from London to Overton, Hampshire, for a friend's birthday party and were first asked to sleep in separate beds, The Daily Telegraph in London reports. The couple had booked a room with a double bed for their stay, but when they checked in upon arrival, the 60-year-old innkeeper tried to persuade them to take a room with two twin beds instead. As it happened, no such rooms were vacant, so the men were able to take their expected room and then went out for the night. When they returned, they discovered they were locked out and were not able to rouse anyone inside the hotel to let them in. So they stayed with one of the men's cousins who lived nearby. That morning, when they went back to the hotel to confront the owner, he brandished what looked like a gun and said he was "a bloody good shot." The weapon turned out to be a beer tap. The matter has since ended up in court, where the judge likened the couple's predicament to the famous British comedy series. Charged with possession of a firearm or an imitation firearm with the intent to cause fear of unlawful violence, the innkeeper was acquitted. He was later asked about his opinion of gay men and said, "I am not homophobic. I have friends who are gay.'' He added, however, in explanation of his actions, "In a small village like Overton, everyone watches everyone else all the time. I would have had the mickey taken out of me for a couple of weeks. I have a good reputation and like to keep my reputation.'' (Advocate.com)