An electrician expressed surprise after being denied entry to a beer garden for wearing his work attire. Graham, the owner of an alarm company, had just finished his work on Friday and wanted to have a drink with his colleagues. Despite being clean and not covered in paint, he and his friends were stopped from entering the pub due to their work clothes. The pub clarified that they enforce a “smart casual dress code” and do not consider uniforms or workwear as suitable attire.
The incident occurred at The Dirty Onion beer garden in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter when Graham and his colleagues tried to enter around 2 pm on Wednesday. The situation was discussed on BBC’s The Nolan Show, with Graham questioning whether individuals in suits, which are technically workwear in many cases, would also face entry restrictions.
Graham recounted the experience, mentioning that they were politely informed by the doorman that workwear was not allowed. He raised concerns about the exclusion of tradespeople from the establishment based on their attire, suggesting a possible class bias in the decision-making process.
The bar’s decision sparked criticism on social media, with many questioning the fairness of denying entry based on clothing. Some argued that working individuals should be respected and not judged for their work attire.
In response, The Dirty Onion defended their dress code policy, stating that they have maintained a smart casual dress code for 12 years. The bar’s spokesperson explained that their door staff have discretion in enforcing the policy, with uniforms and workwear generally considered unsuitable for the venue’s atmosphere.
Despite the disagreement, The Dirty Onion emphasized that their staff had communicated the dress code in a friendly and polite manner. They expressed regret at not accommodating the customer on that occasion but stood by their established policy.
Overall, the incident highlighted a debate on dress codes and inclusivity in public establishments, prompting discussions on social media regarding the treatment of individuals based on their attire.