‘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 after being labeled a safety risk due to her wheelchair. The incident occurred at Club Tropicana in Manchester’s Gay Village on Saturday night, during which she and a friend were removed within minutes of entering the venue.

“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.

Before arriving at Club Tropicana, Maddie and her friend had been at other bars in the city that evening. She stated that security staff initially welcomed them, even helping to lift her wheelchair inside the venue. However, shortly after her friend left for a drink, the same security team informed her they were “really sorry” but had been told to ask her to leave.

“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,” she explained.

When Maddie requested to speak with the manager, he was described as “horribly rude” throughout their exchange. She pointed out the 2010 Equality Act, emphasizing that wheelchair users cannot be excluded over a fire risk without inclusive evacuation plans. “I said ‘you can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination,'” she added.

Despite her argument, the manager refused to acknowledge her point and repeated his stance. Maddie noted that he even threatened to pass on any fines the venue might receive to her. Eventually, she decided to leave but asked for staff contact details to file a complaint, only to be escorted out.

Club Tropicana confirmed an investigation was underway and stated they had not been directly contacted by Maddie. Manchester City Council is also examining the incident following her complaint to its licensing committee.

Under the Equality Act, venues are legally required to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled individuals. This includes features like ramps and other practical measures. Discrimination based on disability, such as denying entry without just cause, is a violation of this law.