‘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 after being told her wheelchair posed a safety risk. The incident occurred on Saturday night at Club Tropicana in the city’s Gay Village, where she and a friend were within minutes of entering when the bar manager ordered them to exit.
Unexpected Dismissal
During the encounter, Maddie explained that staff initially allowed her wheelchair inside without issue. However, after her companion left to get a drink, security returned and informed her they had to ask her to leave. She described the manager’s demeanor as “horribly rude” throughout the exchange, noting his refusal to address her concerns.
“How was I a safety risk?” she asked, emphasizing her confusion. “If they could be in there, why shouldn’t we?”
When she requested to speak with the manager, he reiterated the reason for her removal, shifting from a safety issue to a fire risk. Maddie then displayed the 2010 Equality Act on her phone, highlighting that wheelchair users cannot be excluded without proper justification. “You can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination,” she stated.
Legal Context and Response
Under the Equality Act, venues are legally obligated to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled individuals, such as ramps or evacuation plans that accommodate wheelchair users. Maddie noted that the manager had not acknowledged these provisions, despite her citing them. The club confirmed an investigation is underway but declined to comment further until conclusions are reached.
Manchester City Council has also taken an interest, following Maddie’s complaint to its licensing committee. She added that the manager threatened to assign any fines the venue might incur to her, which she found disheartening. “The whole thing was really embarrassing,” she said, recounting how she had to leave the bar while being escorted out.
Empowerment Through Knowledge
Maddie, who has lived with a disability for nearly five years, expressed frustration that her rights were not recognized. “I’d never had anything like this happen before, and I know my rights,” she said. Her experience underscored the importance of awareness about legal protections for disabled individuals in public spaces.
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