Question: The City of
Coventry decided, some time ago, to celebrate its long history with a parade and
pageant through the streets of the town on May Day. The parade was to include a
rather scantily dressed Lady Godiva, on horseback, as well as characters from
the city’s more recent history.
Martin, a local
businessman, thought it would be a good idea to celebrate his wife Lesley’s
birthday in style, so he booked a suite of rooms in the Royal Mercia Hotel for
the party, overlooking the route which the parade was expected to take. It was
agreed that the hotel would provide food and drink for the party. He paid a
deposit of £500, making it clear that he wanted a room to see the procession.
There had been a fair bit
of agitation against the procession in the city, particularly form a group
calling itself “Women Against Exploitation” who regarded the parade as
outrageously sexist and called for it to be banned. Two days before it was due
to take place, Coventry City Council bowed to pressure and called the entire
event off.
When Martin heard this, he
called the Royal Mercia Hotel and said he was no longer interested in hiring
the room. The hotel replied that as far as they were concerned the booking
still stood and they would go ahead and provide the catering for Martin’s
wife’s birthday as agreed.
Martin and his guests did
not attend on the day in question. Nevertheless the hotel sent him a bill. He
counterclaimed for the return of his deposit. Miss Tessa Smith, who was
employed for the day to play the part of Lady Godiva, is suing Coventry City
Council for breach of contract.
Advise Martin and Coventry City Council.
