A woman with facial tattoos has expressed shock after being ordered to leave a beachside location.
Kerrie Ashby, 63, claims she was turned away by staff at the Colley Hotel, formerly the Jetty Bar in the Adelaide coastal suburb of Glenelg, on Sunday night.
She and a friend were hoping to grab something to eat, but said the waitresses “looked at them a little funny” when they asked for a menu.
The manager then approached the women and asked them to leave.
Mrs Ashby was devastated by the incident.
“I thought he was going to tell me that the kitchen was about to close and he told me that the owners have a policy of not allowing facial tattoos,” she told the newspaper. Advertiser.
“I said it’s disgusting, I’ve lived in this community for years, I’ve eaten here before, I was stunned and just left.”
She previously faced discrimination and was labeled “violent” due to her tattoos, which she got to boost her confidence after she was diagnosed with alopecia.
Kerrie Ashby (pictured) was refused service at the Colley Hotel in Adelaide because of her facial tattoos.
The Colley Hotel (pictured) in Glenelg has a general policy prohibiting serving guests with facial tattoos that cannot be covered.
He explained that the condition caused his hairline to recede and because he “didn’t like the bald look,” he decided to cover his insecurity with a mandala tattoo.
“It’s just ridiculous, so many people have facial tattoos these days but they’re not affiliated with any gang or any drug-related behavior and what bothers me is the fact that I’ve been put in a stereotypical group (of violent people). that I don’t belong,” said Mrs. Ashby.
The Colley Hotel says it has a “clean, neat and respectful” dress code that prohibits “intimidating, aggressive or offensive” tattoos, as well as a general policy against facial tattoos unless they have cultural or religious significance.
People with facial tattoos are allowed as long as they cover the ink.
Ms Ashby (pictured) criticized the venue’s rule as outdated and said “a lot of people have facial tattoos these days”.
A hotel spokesperson said the policy “is in place to ensure all of our guests, community members and families feel safe.”
He added that Ms Ashby could discuss the issue further with the venue to reach a resolution.
Businesses in South Australia can impose “reasonable” dress codes for customers.
That includes places that ask customers to comply with changing dress standards in different areas of the premises or at different times of the day.
The same standards must be applied to all customers, unless a reasonable circumstance arises, such as a health and safety concern.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Ashby and the Colley Hotel for further comment.
