Police have confirmed they are investigating a pub that allegedly refused to serve a gay group in a row over their sexuality.
The Labour Party's Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered Rights group was in the Greencoat Boy pub in Westminster, central London, when the row occurred.
Owner Punch Taverns has suspended a staff member pending its investigation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "An allegation that a homophobic incident took place was reported."
The pub chain apologised and hung a rainbow flag - often used to symbolise the Gay Pride movement - in the pub window.
The Met spokesman said they would be able to say more about the investigation later.
'Shocked and saddened'
James Asser, a member of the group, said: "Everyone involved was shocked and outraged. This attitude is totally unacceptable in this day and age.
"What century are we living in here?
"When you encounter prejudice you have to stand up and be counted - at the very least we expect an apology.
"We also want a demonstration that the pub chain takes this very seriously and will make sure it never happens again."
A Punch Taverns spokesman accepted that the customers were denied service and said the pub firm was investigating "on what grounds this took place".
He added: "Punch Taverns seeks to provide welcoming venues to everyone.
"We are shocked and saddened that a group of our guests did not experience this and would like to apologise.
"We would however like to stress that this is an isolated incident and is not representative of our commitment to diversity."
The incident became the most viewed trend on social networking site Twitter.
Former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott tweeted in support of the group, writing: "Forty years ago we campaigned against a Hull pub that banned 'women and queers'.
"This is disgraceful."
'''Manager jednego z londyńskich pubów został oskarżony o homofobiczny atak (''homophobic assault'') przez grupę LGBT Partii Pracy. Jak twierdzą, powiedział on, iż nie przyjąłby rezerwacji tej grupy gdyby wiedział, że rezerwuje grupa LGBT. Odmówił też obsłużenia gości.'''

To zachowanie wzbudziło powszechne oburzenie w Partii Pracy, potępił je lider partii Ed Balls oraz były premier Gordon Brown. Rzecznik partii stwierdził, iż „dzięki prawu wprowadzonemu przez labourzystów tego typu zachowanie jest przestępstwem”. O zdarzeniu została powiadomiona policja. Rzecznik policji potwierdził zajście incydentu homofobicznego oraz fakt prowadzenia śledztwa.

W ramach przeprosin zarząd pubu usunął managera oraz poleciły wywiesić w oknie kolorową flagę kojarzoną z osobami LGBT. W oświadczeniu zarządu czytamy, że „jest głęboko zszokowany i zasmucony” incydentem oraz że jest to jedynie jednostkowe zdarzenie nie mające nic wspólnego z polityką sieci pubów.