A HIGHLAND tourist board chairman is threatening to take legal action to stop a homosexual magazine listing a bar at his hotel.
Mr Nicol Manson, chairman of the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board, is angry that Edinburgh-based Scotsgay magazine has named Nico's bar in Inverness as a favourite gay haunt. However, Scotsgay editor John Hein said yesterday: ``If he does take legal action, our message is - see you in court honeybunch.'' Mr Manson said the listing implied wrongly that Nico's, part of the Glen Mhor Hotel, was for homosexual people.
He said: ``I have written to the editor of the magazine, asking for the listing of Nico's to be removed. But this has not happened and I am really at the stage of considering legal action.''
It has been rumoured for some time that Nico's was a premises used regularly by the gay community.
Mr Hein said that Scotsgay had merely highlighted the fact there were two unofficial gay nights at the bar, but said the listing clearly described the clientele as ``mixed''.
He added: ``We are not saying the clientele is exclusively gay - we are saying it is mixed. If Mr Manson tells me homosexuals are not welcome, we will remove the listing.
``He has been quite happy to take gay money over the years and should be honest if he doesn't want to serve homosexuals.''
The magazine has a bi-monthly circulation of up to 4000, with additional sales through the monthly Inside Out supplement which features the Nico's listing. It also has about 10,000 subscribers on the Internet.
Mr Hein said: ``We have had complaints before from establishments listed, but only for spelling mistakes and such like. I find it very strange that he should complain about a free advert.''
Mr Hein said Nico's had been listed ``for quite some time'' in Spartacus, which has a large international readership.
``I think he is singling us out because there was a shock, horror, gay bar newspaper story about Nico's last year. That is probably why he is so sensitive.
``He complained about the listing, then sent me an ill-natured, handwritten fax which was absolutely reprehensible.''
Mr Manson, a former president of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, is adamant the listing must go.
He said he had nothing against homosexuals or people of different races or religious or political beliefs.
``Nico's is no different to any other bar,'' he said. ``It will always contain a proportion of gays and straight people.''
The magazine lists Nico's as a popular bistro, gives an address and phone number, and gives days and times each week when gays like to attend.
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