Anger at club's tattoo ban

By Jenna MacCulloch

Published: 05 November, 2009

FURIOUS revellers have hit out at a city nightspot's new rule which bans men with uncovered tattoos on their forearms from entering the club.

advertising

But the same rule currently being enforced by management at Love2Love nightclub on Castle Street, Inverness, does not appear to apply to women who have body art on their arms or wrists.

The Highland News has has been contacted by a number of unhappy customers who believe the new rule is a form of "discrimination".

However, management at Love2Love this week refused to confirm or deny the existence of the rule.

Robert Murray (20) spoke to the HN after he was turned away on Saturday night because of his tattoo, which illustrates seven stars and is located on his arm.

"I go to Love2Love most weekends," he said. "On Saturday night, I was wearing what I always wear, which is jeans and a T-shirt. But when I got to the door to get in, I was told that I wasn't allowed through the door because of my tattoo, which was on show."

Mr Murray, of Galloway Drive, Culloden, explained that he had never heard of the rule.

"I couldn't understand it, because it's not like my tattoo is offensive or anything like it, and it's never happened before," he said.

"But the bouncers were trying to get my friend, who was with me at the time, to lend me his shirt but it wouldn't fit anyway."

But Mr Murray was left even more stunned when his friend, Fiona McDonald (19), asked bouncers if she was also going to be refused entry because of her tattoo.

"Fiona has a tattoo on her wrist which was on display and wasn't covered up - so she asked the bouncers if the same rule applied to her.

"But they said it wasn't a problem, which makes it look like its one rule for girls and another for boys, which seems pretty sexist."

Extremely angry, Mr Murray was forced to go all the way back home to put on a long-sleeved shirt, so he would be allowed to go clubbing with his friends.

"Luckily one of my friends wasn't drinking and had his car," he said. "So I had to go all the way home and get changed, and managed to get back in. It just seems really stupid to me.

Robert Murray's tattoo is harmless enough - but it stopped him getting into Love2Love. Gary Anthony

"When I turned 18, it was my legal right to chose whether to have a tattoo and I don't understand why a small nightclub in Inverness would choose to have this rule."

His friend Ms McDonald said: "I asked the bouncer if the same rule applied to me, and they told me I was okay. That seems totally unfair to me.

"I was really annoyed because Robert is not someone who would ever cause trouble and the fact that he wasn't allowed through the door because he had a tattoo was really bad.

"I just don't understand the new rule and I was really angry about it on the night."

She added: "And if bouncers or management are going to start a new rule then there should be posters letting customers know about it, so they don't queue for ages, then are turned away at the door."

Another clubber contacted the HN and said: "This subject sparked a heated conversation in the office, as some people believe it is not fair to discriminate against people with tattoos. Will they turn you away for having your ears stretched too?

"I personally think it is an outrage that people can be turned away from the city hotspot for having art tattooed on their arm."

Paul McGregor, manager at Love2Love nightclub, told the HN: "Management reserve the right to refuse admission. That is all I am saying on the matter.

"We will deal with people on a person to person basis.

"Because you work for a newspaper, I'm not going to discuss it with you.

"All I will say is that management reserve the right to refuse entry."

j.macculloch@highland-news.co.uk