Maddie Haining, 18, was told to leave Club Tropicana in Manchester because her wheelchair made her a fire risk, according to Haining. She described the experience as dehumanizing. Door staff had no issue with her wheelchair when she entered the venue with her friends at 2am, Haining said, but later, staff continued to tell her she had to leave and could not stay.
The manager said Haining had to leave because her chair is a safety risk but could not explain how or why, Haining reported. Haining showed bar staff the Equality Act 2010, which states that you cannot deny someone access to a facility because they are in a wheelchair, but the manager told her that if the club gets a fine for breaching fire regulations, he will send it to her, Haining claimed. The owners of Club Tropicana have offered Haining an unreserved apology for the stress and embarrassment she experienced, saying her treatment was completely indefensible, unacceptable, and appalling.
It's daily, and I think people don't realise because it's not often spoken about unless it's an extreme case.
They added that training and accessibility at the club will be reviewed after an investigation. Cherylee Houston said Haining's experience was shocking and outrageous but not uncommon. According to Houston, discrimination against disabled people is daily and often not spoken about unless it's an extreme case.
John Hamilton said many bars in Manchester are not disabled accessible for wheelchairs due to steps and structural limitations. Hamilton added that insurers assessed that a disabled lift at Bar Pop would block the exit during an emergency, so they would not provide cover, and said what happened to Haining was unfortunate, and staff sometimes don't get full training. Venues are legally required under the 2010 Equality Act to ensure reasonable adjustments for disabled people.