UK Companies House records the venue owner's legal name as Morrison Bro's Limited. At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on August 17, 2026, the company conceded that canceling Philip Simon's 2025 festival show amounted to unlawful belief-based discrimination; the Scottish court had not yet set damages.

Sheriff Roderick Flinn, the judge hearing the civil claim, said the company acted unreasonably by waiting until August 5, 2026, to concede and directed that expenses tied to preparations for the substantive hearing be assessed at the higher solicitor-client rate. The reports reviewed by APPI News did not give a final figure for either those expenses or damages.

The cancellation followed a review of Simon's posts

Simon had been scheduled to perform his solo show Shall I Compere Thee in a Funny Way? at Banshee Labyrinth during the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The venue removed the show days before the festival after reviewing Simon's public statements and social media activity.

Chortle reported that the venue's dossier included Simon's posts about Israeli hostages, a prisoner exchange, a Gaza-bound flotilla and his identification as pro-Israel. Banshee Labyrinth said his stated views conflicted with its opposition to the Israeli government's policies and actions, while Simon said he supported the release of hostages and a path to peace.

The August 17 concession reversed the venue's earlier public position that the cancellation was unrelated to Simon's religion or cultural identity. It did not produce judicial findings on the meaning of each post or on every factual allegation made during the dispute.

The legal framework is broader than this case

The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission says in its statutory code for the Equality Act 2010 that religion or belief is a protected characteristic and that direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably because of a protected characteristic. The code covers services provided publicly or privately, whether payment is required or not.

The same code says it is guidance rather than an authoritative statement of law, a role reserved for courts and tribunals. Public reports on Simon's case do not identify the provisions pleaded or publish the parties' agreed wording in full.

After Morrison Bro's Limited conceded liability, APPI News found no reasoned decision applying the statute to disputed evidence. The outcome resolves liability in Simon's claim but offers limited detail for other venues assessing different facts.

Damages and legal expenses remain unsettled

The court will set damages later, and Simon said his earlier settlement proposals had sought an apology, antisemitism training and a contribution to an antisemitism charity. Those proposals were requests from Simon, not remedies the court had ordered at the time of reporting.

The higher solicitor-client rate applies to specified hearing-preparation expenses and is separate from the damages decision. APPI News could not locate a published written order, the parties' agreed joint minute or an official case page, leaving the full terms and final sums unverified.

The Whistlebinkies cancellation is separate

Another Edinburgh venue, Whistlebinkies, separately canceled Simon's Jewish comedy showcase Jew-O-Rama in 2025, citing staff safety concerns. The Jewish Chronicle reported that Simon had hosted the rotating showcase for nine years, including five at that venue.

Banshee Labyrinth said the Whistlebinkies dispute prompted it to review Simon's posts, but the August 17 concession concerned Morrison Bro's Limited and Banshee Labyrinth only. APPI News found no published ruling that determined whether the Whistlebinkies decision was unlawful.