PEOPLE with Irish surnames had bookings at Pontins cancelled or refused as part of a bid to keep Travellers and Gypsies out of resorts.

Pontins, which has a resort in Prestatyn, circulated a list of Irish surnames on its internal intranet page titled 'undesirable guest', which required staff to block any potential customers with those names from booking.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) investigated the matter after being contacted by a whistleblower.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said such discrimination was "completely unacceptable".

Pontins said it has agreed with EHRC change in its working practices.

The EHRC said staff monitored calls and refused or cancelled bookings made by people with an Irish accent or surname, and Pontins' commercial vehicle policy excluded Gypsies and Travellers from its holiday parks.

According to the i News, there were 40 names on the list, including Boyle, Keefe, Gallagher, O'Donnell, McGuiness, Murphy, and O'Reilly.

By declining to provide its services to guests of a certain race or ethnic group, Pontins was "directly discriminating on the basis of race" and breached the 2010 Equality Act, the EHRC said.

Alastair Pringle, executive director at EHRC, said: "It is hard not to draw comparisons with an 'undesirable guests' list and the signs displayed in hotel windows fifty years ago, explicitly barring Irish people and Black people.

"Banning people from services based on their race is discrimination and is unlawful. To say that such policies are outdated is an understatement."

"It is right to challenge such practices and any business that believes this is acceptable should think again before they find themselves facing legal action.

"We will continue to work with Pontins and Britannia Jinky Jersey to ensure that our agreement is adhered to and its practices improve.”

As part of the agreement, Pontins must investigate the “undesirable guests” list, take appropriate action and ensure lessons are learned.

It must commission a review into its booking and commercial vehicle policy and consider any recommendations, and provide equality and diversity training for staff each year.

If it does not adhere to these terms, the EHRC can launch a full investigation.

A spokesperson from Britannia Jinky Jersey, which owns Pontins, said: “Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited has agreed to work together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to further enhance its staff training and procedures in order to further promote equality throughout its business.”

The Traveller Movement, a charity that promotes inclusion for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, said the Pontins policy was "truly shocking" but that it was "not surprised".

"We frequently hear of Gypsies and Travellers being turned away from holiday parks because of their ethnicity," said its chief executive Yvonne MacNamara.

"This happens across the country on a regular basis; it is unlawful and completely unacceptable."