Down Under eatery bans diners with tattoos, ‘heavy’ jewelry to discourage 'intimidating appearances'

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A restaurant in Sydney, Australia recently introduced a controversial dress code to attempt to prevent customers from “intimidating” others.

In front of the Middle Eastern restaurant Bedouin a note was posted to inform patrons of the new policy that prohibits “visible tattoos,” “designer” logos and “heavy jewelry,” according to a report by The Daily Telegraph.

“We value our customers and community stakeholders, and have always implemented house rules that includes a dress policy that discourages intimidating appearances,” said Poata Okeroa, one of the restaurant’s co-licensees.

(Video Credit: Sky News)

The restaurant has been in business for the past three years and transforms into a nightclub on Friday and Saturday from 10 pm to 3 am. It also attracts celebrities, including “The Voice” judge Rita Ora and tennis star Nick Kyrgios.

A tattoo-loving chef from the UK who sports both neck and arm tattoos and works in a restaurant in Manly, Australia was livid when he heard about the new policy that would prevent him from visiting the venue.

“I’ve never heard of this policy in Australia, I have head and arm tattoos and not once when dining out has this come up until recently. Hearing they are now introducing these rules is a shame,” chef Michael Mcelroy told 7News.

Mcelroy’s coworkers told him these types of policies were previously commonplace in Aussie restaurants.

“To hear we are going back to these rules is upsetting,” he said. “I love to eat out at restaurants so sooner or later this will start to affect my dining experiences.”

Social media was divided on the issue with some claiming it was their right to discriminate against people based on appearance and others just chalking it up to policies typical to the land down under.

***Warning: Language***

It’s in communist shithole called Australia, so no worries.

— Cobra1617 (@Cobra16171) February 19, 2022

It’s Australia completely normal.

— TC Patriot (@ozzyozzyny) February 19, 2022

Many upscale restaurants in the states have dress codes.

Upscale restaurants have a dress code to distinguish the intended atmosphere of the restaurant.

For instance, you shouldn’t wear a hat in an upscale restaurant, especially if Tony Soprano is dining there. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/QjzqRCow9V

— Rob シャピロ・ロバート 🇺🇸🇯🇵 (@RobS____) February 19, 2022

It’s for visual health care 😂

— Max space (@CLEPTOKRACIA) February 19, 2022

1) Choose to dine elsewhere if it’s a problem. No one is forced to spend their money in any establishment if they do not agree w/ their rules. 2) Who cares,this is in Australia & isn’t a typical restaurant that average patrons can afford. 3) Again, who cares about this in the US?

— JudgeJudyShyster (@prissygurl_76) February 19, 2022

Richard Shields, a councilor from Woollahra, called the restaurant’s dress code policy “an April Fool’s Day joke.”

“The listed restrictions would preclude a big chunk of the eastern suburbs,” he told the Daily Mail. “I am personally not a fan of tattoos but I defend people’s rights to express themselves in that way.”

American meat-eaters were equally appalled last year at a dress code implemented in Steak 48 locations in Chicago and Philadelphia that prohibited anything “excessively frayed,” “emitting offensive odors”, and exposed undergarments. The chain also implemented a $100 per person minimum in order to dine in their establishments.

Critics decry $100/person minimums and ‘racist’ dress code of high-end eateries https://t.co/gs8KP8HH8N pic.twitter.com/tZTTIQTUdq

— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) July 4, 2021

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