‘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, recounted her experience of being asked to leave a nightclub due to her wheelchair, calling it “embarrassing and infuriating.” The incident occurred at Club Tropicana in Manchester’s Gay Village on Saturday evening. Within minutes of entering, she was confronted by a bar manager who claimed her wheelchair posed a safety risk.
Maddie, who had been out with a friend that night, shared the event on Instagram. She emphasized,
“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 noted that prior to arriving at the club, she and her friend had visited several other bars in the city without issue. Security staff had initially allowed her wheelchair into the venue and even helped maneuver it inside.
Her friend left to get a drink, and shortly after, security approached Maddie, apologizing but stating they had been instructed to ask her to leave. When she requested to speak with the manager, he arrived and was described as “horribly rude” throughout their exchange. Maddie challenged him,
“I asked ‘how was I a safety risk?’ If I was a safety risk, they wouldn’t have let me in in the first place.”
The manager did not provide a clear reason and shifted the explanation to a “fire risk.”
To assert her rights, Maddie showed the staff the 2010 Equality Act on her phone. She argued,
“You can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination.”
Despite her efforts, the manager persisted in his stance and refused to acknowledge the legal basis for her stay. Maddie eventually left but demanded the names and contact details of the involved staff to file a complaint.
Club Tropicana’s Response
Club Tropicana stated in a press release that an investigation is underway and that it “would be inappropriate to comment further” at this stage. The club confirmed it had been informed about the incident but not directly contacted by Maddie. Manchester City Council also pledged to review the situation after she reported it to its licensing committee.
Under the Equality Act, venues are legally obligated to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled individuals. This includes features like ramps and inclusive evacuation plans. Refusing entry based on disability, without justification, constitutes a form of discrimination. Maddie highlighted that the manager had even threatened to pass on any fines the club might receive to her, underscoring the incident’s impact.
Maddie expressed frustration at not being recognized for her rights, stating,
“I’d never had anything like this happen before, and I know my rights. Being disabled for nearly five years, you kind of just learn about this stuff.”
She described the experience as both humiliating and disheartening, having to defend herself in front of her friends while being escorted out.
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