‘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 removed from Club Tropicana in Manchester’s Gay Village after being told her wheelchair posed a safety risk. The incident occurred on Saturday night when she and a friend arrived at the club, only to be asked to leave within minutes. Maddie posted a video of the interaction on Instagram, highlighting the indignity of the situation.
Dispute Over Access and Safety
Maddie claimed that security staff initially allowed her and her companion to enter without issue, even lifting her wheelchair into the venue. However, after her friend left to get a drink, the staff returned and informed her they had to ask her to exit. She insisted the decision was discriminatory, citing the 2010 Equality Act. When she challenged the manager, he dismissed her arguments and repeated his stance without addressing her concerns.
“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 said.
During the confrontation, Maddie questioned how her wheelchair could be a safety risk, pointing out that the venue should have accommodated her. The manager later shifted his explanation to claim she was a fire risk, prompting her to display the Equality Act on her phone. “You can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination,” she asserted.
Club and Council Responses
Club Tropicana stated it was investigating the incident and would not comment further. Manchester City Council confirmed it was reviewing the event after Maddie filed a complaint with its licensing committee. The club admitted it was aware of the incident but had not been directly contacted by her.
Under the Equality Act, venues are legally required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled individuals. This includes measures like ramps and inclusive evacuation plans. Refusing entry due to disability constitutes a breach of these provisions. Maddie noted that the manager threatened to pass on any fines the venue incurred to her, adding to her frustration.
Despite the confrontation, Maddie eventually decided to leave, requesting staff names and contact details to file a formal complaint. “The whole thing was really embarrassing. I was in a bar with my friends and kept getting security sent over,” she recalled. “It was infuriating as I showed them the law and they had not taken any of it on board.” She emphasized her understanding of her rights after nearly five years of living with a disability.
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