A man who claims he was refused service in a Falmouth pub because of his disability has completed a 300-mile ‘pub crawl’ from his home town of Coventry.

Alex Barker, 43, who has Moebius Syndrome which causes facial paralysis, stumbled as he walked into the Cutty Sark two weeks ago, and was then refused service as staff believed him to be drunk.

His experience led to national media coverage and a social media campaign led by the charity Changing Faces in which pubs were asked to commit to serving people with facial disabilities, using the hashtag #ServeAlex.

After leaving Coventry on Friday, Alex called at pubs in Worcester, Bristol, Exeter, Bodmin and Truro before reaching Falmouth on Saturday, where he visited the Gylly Beach Cafe and the Chain Locker.

“I’ve had a fantastic welcome from all the pubs I’ve visited on the way,” said Alex. “I’d never been refused service before, and it’s restored my faith that so many pubs are clearly very welcoming to all their customers. All licensees need to make sure they and their staff are aware of their legal obligations to treat all customers fairly and equally."

He’s hoping to raise £10,000 for Changing Faces and Facial Palsy UK, two charities that have supported him, to help them raise awareness of the problem, and has already raised over £700 including cash donations from pubs on his route.

“Alex’s experience highlights a real problem that we hear about week in, week out,” said Dr James Partridge OBE, chief executive of Changing Faces. “We hear of people being thrown out of pubs and clubs when they’re completely sober but a mistake has been made. We’ve got a big job to do working with the hospitality industry to help them ensure all customers are made to feel welcome, regardless of their appearance."

Following the incident at the Cutty Sark, landlady Jess Stunell issued an apology, and said the decision to refuse service was "not out of any discrimination, but out of a genuine concern for the safety and welfare of all our customers."