The popular Belfast bar backed its decision to refuse entry to an electrician who was wearing his workwear and claimed it ‘feels like a bit of a class thing’
A Belfast bar has defended its controversial decision to turn away an electrician because he was in his work clothes.
Graham, who owns an alarm company, said he was refused entry to The Dirty Onion beer garden in the Cathedral Quarter last Friday afternoon. “It definitely feels like a bit of a class thing,” he told the BBC’s The Nolan Show this morning.
Discussing his experience, Graham said: “We are alarm engineers… We were doing a couple of alarm resets on Friday, finished off on Waring Street Friday afternoon. It was about 2pm. 2.30pm I think it was, and decided to have a quick pint on the way through…
“Went down to The Dirty Onion beer garden. We were stopped by the doorman, gentleman he was, can’t blame him, he was only doing his job, and we were told no workwear…. We were a bit shocked.”
He added: “What does no workwear mean? Lets face it, there’s offices around there, there’s all sorts of establishments around that place, and they’re probably able to get in in their suits…
“I thought to myself, well it’s actually a no tradesmen policy, tradesmen and women, tradespeople. It’s not really a workwear thing, it’s no tradesmen. So what I want to know is, what’s the image of a tradesman got to do with not being able to get into a beer garden on a Friday afternoon?”
Graham later said: “It definitely feels like a bit of a class thing. Look, throw a bit of common sense at it. I understand there’s got to be dress codes and policies.
“If a painter was to turn up covered in head to toe in paint, or a joiner covered in dust and was unclean, I totally get that, but we were clean…”
A spokesperson for The Dirty Onion said: “The Dirty Onion has had a smart casual dress code since it opened, 12 years ago. Our SIA licensed door staff team are briefed to use their discretion, but uniforms and workwear would not generally be deemed as smart casual attire.
“We pride ourselves on providing a welcoming environment and that experience starts at the door. Our door staff team politely explain the policy to anyone they feel does not meet the dress code.
“The exchange between the door team and the customer on this occasion was friendly, polite and seemingly well received. Whilst we are sorry we could not accommodate the customer on this occasion, we stand by our staff communicating our established dress code.”