‘I was kicked out of bar because of my wheelchair’
I was kicked out of bar because of my wheelchair
An 18-year-old woman from Oldham, Maddie Haining, shared her experience of being asked to leave a Manchester nightclub due to her wheelchair, describing the event as “embarrassing and infuriating.” The incident occurred at Club Tropicana in the Gay Village on Saturday night, where she and a friend were removed shortly after entering.
Protest and Legal Challenge
Maddie posted a video of the encounter on Instagram, emphasizing her frustration. “It’s not okay to be removed from bars because you are disabled and different to other people. If they can be in there then why shouldn’t we,” she stated. To assert her rights, she displayed the 2010 Equality Act to the staff, arguing that wheelchair users cannot be excluded based on a fire risk without proper evacuation plans.
“I said ‘you can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination,’ but he wasn’t having any of it. He just kept repeating himself and not acknowledging anything.”
Incident Details
Earlier that evening, Maddie had visited other bars in the city with her friend, where no issues arose. Upon arriving at Club Tropicana, security staff initially allowed her wheelchair inside. However, after her friend left to get a drink, she was told she had to go. The manager, who was “horribly rude the whole time,” claimed she was a safety risk, though Maddie questioned why she was permitted entry in the first place.
“They wouldn’t explain why, and then the story changed to that I was a fire risk.”
Despite her efforts to demonstrate the legal protections under the Equality Act, the manager refused to relent. Maddie eventually left but requested staff names and contact details to pursue a formal complaint. She described the situation as a mix of embarrassment and frustration, noting she had never faced such treatment before.
Club’s Response
Club Tropicana confirmed an investigation is ongoing and stated it “would be inappropriate to comment further” at this time. The venue admitted awareness of the incident but had not been directly contacted by Maddie. Manchester City Council is also reviewing the situation following her complaint to its licensing committee.
Legal Context
Under the 2010 Equality Act, venues are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled individuals. This includes features like ramps and inclusive evacuation plans. Refusing entry due to disability is considered discriminatory, and failure to comply could result in legal action. Maddie highlighted that the staff had not grasped these principles, despite her explaining them clearly.
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