The owners of a Perth pub have hit out at internet comments they say could threaten their hard-won reputation.
Kenneth and Evelyn Pearce are horrified their Robert Burns Lounge has been linked online with a Sunday night stabbing which took place nearby.
Mrs Pearce thinks her quick actions in calling an ambulance after the victim collapsed in County Place outside her pub may have saved his life but said it has had unexpected repercussions.
She said: ”The boy had been stabbed round the corner and came round on to County Place before collapsing against the shop next door.
”There was blood pouring from him it was like something from a horror film so I called an ambulance. The police then came and all the activity was outside the pub, but it was absolutely nothing to do with us.
”I would do the same again because I think the boy would have died but the grief it’s brought has been unbelievable.”
She said she has since seen internet comments insinuating the nature of the pub leads to such incidents.
She said: ”The guy wasn’t a customer here and the assault happened around the corner. It just so happens he ended up nearby and I got involved purely to help.
”To then see things written like: ‘Don’t go in the Robert Burns or you’ll be stabbed’ is heartbreaking because it’s so far from the truth.
”When I took over the licence, the police inspector had to read a list of incidents that had happened under the previous owners and there were 33 of them. There has been no trouble since.”
Mr Pearce said they have worked hard to alter the perception of the Robert Burns, which had a poor reputation before they took over three years ago. Despite their efforts he fears the former stigma could return through no fault of theirs or their clientele.
He said: ”There has not been one incident involving the police here in the last 18 months not one. We comply with everything we have to and are absolutely vigilant about our customers.
”We do the Challenge 25 scheme where if people don’t have ID, they don’t get served. We’re even up for the Best Bar None Awards at the end of the year and have praise from the licensing authority and police.
”I’m here seven days and nights a week to make all that happen. We have birthday parties almost every night for people and have raised money for all sorts of charities.”
Kenneth said his business lost around £600 on Sunday night their busiest night of the week thanks to a karaoke because punters were refused entry by police during their investigation.
He said: ”None of the other businesses on County Place were closed but our customers weren’t allowed out and no-one was allowed in. Now we have to deal with all this stuff on the internet.
”Because there was police tape everywhere and police outside, people presumed it was something to do with us. It was totally unfair the boy was stabbed nowhere near here.”