Peter Foster says his 23-year-old brother-in-law, a lance corporal with the Black Watch, and his mates were told to leave Love2Love after coming back from a gruelling seven-month tour of duty in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

The revelation comes in the wake of Highland News stories which highlighted the nightclub's apparent ban on men entering the premises with uncovered tattoos on their forearms.

The rule at the Castle Street venue does not appear to apply to women with body art and has caused controversy as many servicemen, including those in the Black Watch stationed at Fort George, have tattoos.

Many HN readers have also attacked the situation, claiming it is sexist and a form of discrimination.

Church minister and former serviceman the Rev Iain Ramsden, of North Kessock, said last week he feared soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan would be turned away.

Now Mr Foster (43), who owns Riverford Auto Services in Conon Bridge, has come forward to say two incidents involving soldiers have already happened, on Saturday, November 7, and on the following night.

He said the club had "taken things too far" and called for the manager to change the policy.

During the first incident, Mr Foster, who also has tattoos, said he was celebrating his birthday with a group including his wife, army brother-in-law, father-in-law and several mates when they were told to leave.

The party was not stopped at the door but he claims the rule was pointed out about two hours after they entered the club.

Mr Foster said his brother-in-law then went back on Sunday with his friends, thinking that there must be some kind of misunderstanding, but was again told to leave.

"They were granted entry after paying the door fee and were enjoying themselves until a doorman approached them and said that they had visible tattoos and must either cover up or leave," he explained.

"They were all wearing short sleeves – a desire to show off their tan – so could not cover up and therefore were ejected from club.

"I contacted the club and spoke to the assistant manager about the incident and he has said that all men, and only men, that have visible tattoos must either cover up or leave.

"There are no notices stating this and surely this is a disgraceful way to treat returning heroes who have just served their country so valiantly.

"I informed the assistant about who these young men were but he stated that there are no exceptions.

"I find it sexist that men only are discriminated against and more importantly people with any visible tattoos are also treated like lepers."

Tom Smith, Ciaran Forester and Kris O'Neill, all from the 1st Battalion The Rifles, just back from operations in Afghanistan, at the Tattoo Night at Bakoo on Saturday. Alasdair Allen

He added: "I hope this matter can be brought to light and an apology and change of policy issued."

An army spokesman said: "It is in the Queen's regulations that soldiers are permitted to have tattoos.

"However, it is difficult for us to comment on this particular issue. The people who should be commenting are those from the nightclub."

Between 600 and 700 clubbers attended a special tattoo night at rival nightclub Bakoo on Saturday night which was organised in response to the Love2Love controversy.

Meanwhile, the boss of Love2Love this week finally broke his silence on the controversy – and claimed no-one has ever been banned from the club or asked to leave for having a tattoo.

Manager Paul McGregor, who two weeks ago would only say "management reserve the right to refuse admission" told the HN he wanted to clarify the club's position, saying there had been "misleading" information.

"There has never been a ban on people with tattoos," he claimed. "We have not asked anyone to leave on the grounds that they have a tattoo."

Moreover, he said, he had not received a complaint from Mr Foster and reiterated: "Nobody has ever been refused admission on the grounds of having a tattoo – they may have been refused for a multitude of other reasons that they did not like, but not for that.

"We do not have a policy in place which alienates people with tattoos. Everybody is treated equally irrespective of what occupation they have."

Mr McGregor said the club is to raise cash for charity Help for Heroes, which supports members of the Armed Forces wounded in the service, from December 16 to January 1 with collecting buckets available on the premises.

Also, it will be holding a special evening for the troops on Monday, December 21, when soldiers, friends and family will be welcome.

"The more the merrier – we will be looking to raise money for a fantastic cause," he said.

* Many HN readers disagree with Mr McGregor and and dozens have been in touch with the Highland News claiming to have had personal experience of male customers with uncovered tattoos being excluded.

o.bell@highland-news.co.uk

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