Bedouin Double Bay, an Australian restaurant and nightclub, is facing backlash after banning customers with visible tattoos from dining there. The controversial dress code was introduced in a bid to stop customers from “intimidating” others.
“We value our customers and community stakeholders and have always implemented house rules that include a dress policy that discourages intimidating appearances,” Bedouin co-licensee Poata Okeroa told The Daily Telegraph.
Poata Okeroa, Eric Jury, and Julian Tobias run the Middle Eastern restaurant, which opened three years ago. The facility, which transforms into a nightclub on weekends, is frequented by celebrities such as tennis player Nick Kyrgios, Scott Eastwood, Rita Ora, and director Taika Waititi.
The new clothing rule has sparked a lot of discussion on social media, with many people believing the restaurant is discriminatory.
Others have pointed out that the restaurant’s dress code policy is not discriminatory if it applies to all customers, even celebrities.
The restaurant did say the tattoos and attire rule also extend to the staff.
UK chef Michael Mcelroy, who works at a restaurant in Manly and has neck and arm tattoos, told 7News he was left fuming after finding out the new rules.
He said: “I’ve never heard of this policy in Australia, I have head and arm tattoos and not once when dining out has this come up until recently. Hearing they are now introducing these rules is a shame.”
He added that his co-workers had told him bans around tattoos were common practice in the industry a few years ago.
“To hear we are going back to these rules is upsetting,” he added.
“I love to eat out at restaurants so sooner or later this will start to affect my dining experiences.”
Woollahra councilor Richard Shields branded the new rules “an April Fool’s Day joke”.
He told the Daily Mail: “The listed restrictions would preclude a big chunk of the eastern suburbs.
“I am personally not a fan of tattoos but I defend people’s rights to express themselves in that way.”
Source: indy100.com
