I was kicked out of bar because of my wheelchair

Maddie Haining, an 18-year-old from Oldham, recounted her experience of being asked to leave Club Tropicana in Manchester’s Gay Village after a bar manager claimed her wheelchair posed a safety risk. The incident occurred on Saturday night when she arrived at the nightclub with a friend, only to be escorted out within minutes. She shared a video clip of the exchange on Instagram, expressing her frustration over the discrimination she faced.

Disability and the Equality Act

The club’s response to the situation was described as “horribly rude” by Maddie. She noted that security staff initially allowed her and her friend entry, even lifting their wheelchair into the venue. However, after her friend left to get a drink, the staff returned and informed her they were “really sorry” but had to ask her to leave. She insisted the manager acknowledge the legal requirements under the 2010 Equality Act, which mandates reasonable adjustments for disabled individuals, including inclusive evacuation plans.

“I said, ‘you can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination,’” Maddie explained.

When she requested to speak with the manager, he repeatedly denied her claims without explanation, shifting the reason to a “fire risk.” Maddie then displayed the Equality Act on her phone to emphasize her point. Despite this, the manager refused to relent, leaving her feeling both embarrassed and enraged. “I was in a bar with my friends and kept getting security sent over,” she said. “It was infuriating because I showed them the law, yet they hadn’t taken it seriously.”

Club’s Statement and Council Investigation

Club Tropicana stated in a response that an investigation is ongoing and it “would be inappropriate to comment further.” The Manchester City Council confirmed it is reviewing the incident following Maddie’s complaint to its licensing committee. The club added that they were not directly contacted by the complainant but were informed of the event.

Under the Equality Act, venues must make reasonable adjustments to ensure access for disabled people. This includes measures like ramps and inclusive evacuation plans. Maddie highlighted that refusing entry based on disability could be a breach of this law. She also mentioned the manager threatened to pass on any fines to her, adding to her sense of being unfairly targeted.

Maddie eventually left the club but asked for staff names and contact details to file a complaint. She emphasized that being disabled for nearly five years had equipped her with knowledge of her rights. “I’d never had anything like this happen before,” she said, underscoring the injustice she felt.

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