‘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 nightclub due to her wheelchair, calling the event “embarrassing and infuriating.” The incident occurred at Club Tropicana in Manchester’s Gay Village on Saturday night when she and a friend arrived within minutes of entering.
According to Maddie, the bar manager immediately directed security to remove her from the venue, claiming her wheelchair posed a safety risk. She uploaded a video to Instagram, highlighting her frustration:
“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.”
Before reaching the club, Maddie and her companion had visited other establishments in the city that evening. She noted that staff initially allowed them entry without issue, even assisting in lifting her wheelchair inside. However, once her friend left to get a drink, security approached and informed her they had to ask her to exit.
When Maddie requested to speak with the manager, he arrived and was described as “horribly rude, really really rude the whole time he was speaking to me.” She challenged his claim, asking,
“How was I a safety risk?”
Maddie argued that the venue should have let her stay, as the manager had not provided a clear reason for the removal.
She then showed the staff the 2010 Equality Act on her phone, explaining that wheelchair users cannot be excluded due to a fire risk without proper evacuation plans. Maddie insisted,
“You can’t make me leave because I’m in a wheelchair – this is discrimination.”
Despite her explanation, the manager dismissed her concerns, repeating his stance without acknowledging the legal argument.
Club Tropicana’s response
Club Tropicana stated in a press release that an investigation was ongoing into the incident, adding that it “would be inappropriate to comment further.” The club confirmed it had been informed of the event but had not received direct contact from Maddie. Manchester City Council also expressed interest, as Maddie had reported the issue to its licensing committee.
Maddie said she eventually decided to leave the premises, though she requested the names and contact details of the involved staff to pursue a formal complaint. She described the experience as “infuriating” and emphasized that, after nearly five years of being disabled, she was familiar with her rights. “Being removed from a bar with friends, while security kept coming over, felt like a real blow,” she added.
She also mentioned that the manager threatened to pass on any fines the venue might face to her personally. The incident has sparked discussions about accessibility and discrimination in public spaces, with Maddie’s actions serving as a reminder of the legal protections in place for disabled individuals.