UK: Kiltie is banned ...........

[Hamish]

The following report appeared in Sunday's Scottish newspaper, "The Sunday Post":

"Kiltie is banned for not wearing pants" by Iain Harrison

A Scots reveller was refused entry to a packed nightclub - because he wasn’t wearing anything under his kilt.

Andrew Clark, from South Queensferry, was on an office night out in Newcastle when the incident happened. Bosses at the city’s 1,700 capacity Baja Beach Club told him he wasn’t getting in unless he put on a pair of pants. They were forced to adopt the "No Underwear, No Entry" policy following a series of flashing incidents on the club’s balcony.

But Andrew, a treasury analyst, claims he was a victim of discrimination. The 30-year-old had been at a black-tie event at a posh hotel before heading to the nightclub with 12 colleagues.

He insists he wasn’t drunk when he arrived at the door but was stopped in his tracks by a burly bouncer. "He told me I wasn’t getting in because I wasn’t wearing anything under my kilt," Andrew said. "I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. By this stage my workmates, who were all wearing suits or evening dresses, had gone in without me. I was left outside on my own wondering what to do with the rest of my night. It was ridiculous."

Andrew, who was sporting the same outfit he was married in just over a year ago, says the incident hasn’t put him off full Highland Dress. "If it’s good enough for Sean Connery at the Oscars or Ewan McGregor at the Cannes Film Festival, it’s good enough for me," he smiled. I am a proud Scotsman and I’ll continue to wear the kilt at home or abroad. "People should not be judged by the clothes they wear."

The club, part of a nationwide chain, is owned by the same Company that runs Bar 38, Evolution, Henry’s Bar and The Rat and Parrot. Chris Tremain, the Baja Beach Club area manager, said kilt-wearing revellers are welcome, but only if they are wearing underwear. "I have spoken to the staff on duty the night Mr. Clark was refused entry and they insist they weren’t out to ruin his night," he added.

"The problem is, if they made an exception for him, they’d have to do the same for everyone else. The club in Newcastle is popular with stag parties from Scotland and we’ve had lots of groups come in with guys wearing kilts.

"They’ve been involved in a number of unfortunate flashing incidents on the balcony.

"However, rather than ban kilts outright we decided to try to meet our Scottish customers halfway."

I will keep an eye open for any follow-ups that might appear in next Sunday's paper.

[Big Mikey]

This is just bloody stupid!! If someone wants to flash the crowd, what's to stop them from "dropping trow"? It would only take a few more seconds. Besides, a man courageous enough to wear a kilt should be more of a gentleman. This is just a case of management not wanting to deal with troublesome individuals.

[McMurdo]

It's unfortunate isn't it Hamish, the young man in question was most likely better dressed than his companions.

I wonder if Sean Connery or Ewan McGregor had shown up at this club would they be turned away?

The other thing I find funny about this is that they say they are meeting their
Scottish customers halfway, does that mean they will bounce every second kilt wearing would be patron?

[cessna152towser]

I wonder how the bouncers knew he was wearing nothing under his kilt. It would have been none of their business to ask. As Mikey says a flasher can unzip trousers just as quick as he can lift a kilt.

[Kilted KT]

wow...I feel sorry for club owners who adopt such policies. As it seems kilts are becomming more popular ( not mainstream, just publicly noticed) bad press like this may direct the kilted to visit other establishments. While this isn't a huge number of people..it is still potential profits walking away.

[bikercelt1]

How did they know? Did they ask? Will they take a person's word for it or will they be checking? This seems like another case of "knee jerk" reaction, these kind of rules are the perfect solution for a non-existent or incorrectable problem. Establishments can take this kind of position because of the relatively small number of people affected. If the bouncers were told to install permenant braces and zipper locks on all trouser wearing men in order to prevent flashing incidents we'd be hearing quite a different slant on this story.

Jamie

[pdcorlis]

What pure rubbish!

[Graham]

So it wasn't the KILT that was the problem, but assumed lack of underwear.
The problem would have easily been fixed if he had been wearing underwear, I think he would then have helped the cause of kilts by making the management that not all kiltwearers are regimental flashers.

I don't think this is discrimination unless it was lack of trousers rather than undies that was the issue.

[ccga3359]

So it wasn't the KILT that was the problem, but assumed lack of underwear.
The problem would have easily been fixed if he had been wearing underwear, I think he would then have helped the cause of kilts by making the management that not all kiltwearers are regimental flashers.

I don't think this is discrimination unless it was lack of trousers rather than undies that was the issue.

I agree with Graham. Although there is probably not a rampant flashing kiltie epidemic. This gent was dressed respectfully, hardly looks the type to be doing what was suggested.

[Warlock]

Just plain stupidity! The lad should start a campeign against said establishment. Maybe the public should meet the establishment half way, at another club!