Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

Spanish police are investigating a British pub in Benidorm for hate crimes after the controversial boozer advertised “midget” strippers for hire to UK tourists.

Prosecutors in the south-eastern Spanish province of Alicante have reportedly launched a case against Chaplin’s bar in Benidorm, according to the Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities.

Spokesman Jesus Martin said that the pub was offering to rent people with dwarfism on a poster at the bar entrance as well as their Facebook account.

Pictures Credit: CEN & CEN/Google Maps

One photo of the poster refers to the dwarf as ‘The Midget’, considered a derogatory term today, and says that he is “available for private hire”. The poster also makes mention of a “live strip show” although it is unclear if this was to include the man with dwarfism.

The pub is famed for its dwarf strip shows according to holidaymakers online.

Martin believes that the offer contravenes the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and reported it to prosecutors in Alicante.

He added: “Dwarfism is a disability that it is still mocked, and practices like this make the stigma and stereotypes worse.

One of the bar owners, identified as Cayetano, defended the offer: “We only had one (dwarf) show, but we ended up cancelling it because people were not very open towards it.

“He was earning a wage, like a waiter or adult entertainer. This kind of thing exists everywhere for hen parties, look on the internet and you will see.”

Felipe Orviz, lawyer for the Alpe Acondroplasia foundation, said: “They may have violated labour laws, but as well there is the possibility they committed a hate crime against disabled people.”

The investigation is ongoing.