Who is Bath pub landlord Rod Humphris and why did he throw Keir Starmer out?
SIR Keir Starmer was left red-faced this afternoon after being booted out of a Bath boozer by a livid landlord who told him to:”Get out of my pub!”
The embarrassing exchange with Rod Humphris was captured on camera by reporters trailing the Labour leader during a campaign walkabout in the city centre.
Who is pub landlord Rod Humphris?
Rod Humphris is the landlord of the Raven pub who kicked out Sir Keir Starmer during an altercation this afternoon.
The 54-year-old is also a crime fiction author, who created the Simon Ellice series.
With a taste for travel, a love of animals, and a chequered career across multiple sectors, Humphris has more than enough life experience to handle rowdy punters.
He grew up with his parents and his sister in the West Country and later pursued his passion for pottery in the Cotswolds.
He first married a Jamaican woman whom he met during a working trip to the country when he crewed charter yachts.
In 2004, he bought The Raven pub with his second wife, Sarah, and his best friend.
The award-winning establishment is now his main priority, which is a short distance from his farmhouse on the outskirts of Bath where he tends to a number of animals.
When he’s not pulling pints or writing novels, Humphris rings the bells at the local Abbey and enjoys a spot of flyfishing.
Where is the Raven pub?
The Raven is a pub situated on Queen Street in the centre of Bath.
Describing itself as a “traditional old English pub”, the family-run tavern opened in 2004 and has continued to go from strength to strength.
Its authentic aesthetic fits amongst its historical surroundings and architecture, as the pub is surrounded by Grade I listed buildings.
The pub was a favoured watering hole of pilots stationed at a nearby airfield in World War II, who used to scrawl messages on the ceiling of the upstairs bar.
With around 13 listed previous owners, the landlords have secured The Raven’s spot as an illustrious drinking spot in the historical town.
Why did Rob Humphris throw Sir Keir Starmer out of his pub?
Rob Humphris furiously threw the Labour leader out of his pub due to his anger at him “failing this country”.
The landlord scuffled with Starmer’s bodyguards, while yelling: “That man is not allowed in my pub!”
Humphris told TalkRadio he was “deeply unhappy about him entering my premises”, despite being “a Labour voter my entire life”.
He slammed Starmer’s failure to hold the Government to account on its pandemic response.
Humphris explained: “I had heard that the Labour Party were coming round and he turned up and I told him what I thought of him, basically.
“I think he has utterly failed us as the leader of the Opposition.
“He has completely failed to ask the questions that needed asking, like, why did we throw away our previous pandemic preparedness?
“Why have we just accepted lockdown? Why have we just accepted the loss of all our freedoms?”
Mr Humphris said he gave Sir Keir a “piece of my mind”, adding: “I would say this to any politician – it’s not a partisan matter.”
He asked Starmer, “Do you understand we have f***** our economy because old people are dying?
“You have failed to be the opposition, you have failed to ask whether lockdown was functioning.
“Thousands of people have died because you have failed to do your job and ask the real questions,” he continued.
“You have allowed our children to wear masks in schools when there’s never been any evidence for it.”
What are the new rules for pubs?
The rules Brits need to stick to while taking a trip down to their local are much more relaxed compared to when pubs were last open – but some restrictions will remain in place.
The 10pm curfew has been scrapped, and punters won’t have to buy a scotch egg or any other food to get served alcohol.
However, social distancing will remain in place at least until autumn, with measures set to be reconsidered in the summer when more people are vaccinated.
Boozers will have to stick to the “rule of six” limits or be in a party with no more than two households presents, while abiding to two-metre distancing from others.
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Pub-goers aged 16 and over have to check in to NHS Test and Trace or provide their contact details to staff.
And there is still no more flitting from table to table – customers must order, eat and drink while seated at a table and if they head to the toilet or elsewhere, then face masks must be worn, unless exempt.
This is expected to stay all summer as a compromise for the early reopening.