A FAMILY has spoken of its “disgust” at Hollywood Bowl’s concession policy after claiming the facility is deterring disabled people from using it at peak times.

Charlene Champion and her family were out celebrating her brother Ben Champion’s birthday at the leisure park bowling alley when they went to pay using two yellow concession cards for members of the party with disabilities.

However, the 28-year-old was told they could not use the cards at the weekend and it was Hollywood Bowls’ policy to only accept them during weekday periods.

The stance has triggered strong criticism from a disability charity and the alley owner has now apologised for any upset caused.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Miss Champion.

“I challenged the manager and said people with disabilities aren’t locked away on the weekend and their needs don’t disappear.

“I walked away wondering if maybe Hollywood Bowl are ashamed of disabled people.”

Miss Champion, who lives in Brighton Hill, explained that weekends are the only time the family can all get together.

Using the yellow card is a vital lifeline for her brother Ben, who has autism, suffers from epilepsy and lives in a care home in Worting Road.

The mum-of-three, whose stepson has an attachment disorder and also has a yellow card, added: “There is not a lot for adults with disabilities to do and where Ben volunteers during the week, he looks forward to his weekends like most people.

“If he wasn’t with his family and had gone with his carers he would have had to pay full price for them and him, something he cannot afford and it just acts as a deterrent for disabled people to go there.”

The incident, which happened on Sunday, September 4, is not the first time the bowling alley has been accused of discrimination. 

When it was run as Bowlplex it refused to offer a concessionary rate to a deafblind boy during school holidays earlier this year - read the story here. 

David Martin, director of external affairs at the Papworth Trust, a charity which supports disabled people, said: “It is disappointing in 2016 to hear about the Champion family being unable to use a valid concessionary card for disabled people, simply because it is ‘peak time’.

“Papworth Trust hopes Hollywood Bowl will seriously review this policy as soon as possible.”

A spokesman for Hollywood bowl said: “Firstly, we’d like to apologise for any upset caused.

“We have a very good relationship with local disability groups, and naturally, we want this to continue.

“We see on a daily basis how much people with disabilities enjoy bowling with us, which is why we offer an adult concessionary rate of a 50 per cent discount to customers with disabilities. 

“Unfortunately though, there are certain limited ‘peak’ periods where it is not always possible to offer this concessionary discount.

“Ultimately, we’re a business, so for commercial reasons, we can only offer concessions to any group, whether disabled, seniors, or schools at certain times.”