Contact details for CRE:

Commission for Racial Equality
St Dunstan's House
201-211 Borough High Street
LONDON
SE1 1GZ

Tel: 020 7939 0000
Fax: 020 7939 0004
Email:  info@cre.gov.uk

Thanks for this, we will do some investigating in to your claims, would you be prepared to have another go next week wearing a descrete micro video camera ?
Journo

That this was based on race? I only ask as there are often plenty of black and asian people in there.

When I was a student at leeds uni I heard of this happing. A group of Malaysian students and ‘white’ students were out and the ‘white; students were told by the door men to come back alone because the ‘racial’ quota had been filled for the night. There logic seems to be not that they don’t allow in certain ‘races’ but that they try to ‘balance’. So I’d suggested if you do try to catch them go in a mixed group and have a ‘white’ person break off and talk to the door staff because they are more likely to explain their ‘policy’ to them and give you a different story!

That's terrible. I've just moved to Leeds from Southampton, and lots of people said it's a crap city, but I didn't believe them. Now I see. Ouch!

I have contacted CRE about this matter and they got back to me suggesting that I contact Town house directly, I don't want to speak to them as they will try to cover up.

As for Journo, yes am prepared to have another go wearing a descrete micro video camera. I think that's the only way to get material evidence.

I mean it may be hard to say that it was race related but when three coloured individuals are singled out respectively then its questionable. I definately have no doubt that it was race related.

With regards to withness see this below, there were a few people there at the time but i didn't have time to get their details. blogs. http://townhouseleeds.blogspot.com/2006/06/racism-at-town-house-leeds.html

Once again thank you all for your comments.

Ismaila.

I have written to management of Townhouse about this incident but of course it must have been trashed into the bin as I got no reply…
Yep, we were in the queue for some 15 mins and was almost at the door when some bouncer spotted us. He walked over briskly to my friend and was like “Sorry mate, no point queuing, we can’t let you in”. Of course, this sort of incident is typical between bouncers and club-goers but this was a very isolated incident from the “you are inappropriately dressed” or “have you got any I D” norm. This was more like “you are Black, so you can’t come in” as we were very well dressed. We also looked old enough to get into any nightclubs (I’m 25 and
my friend, 26). So what was their problem? Of course, they could not answer that question themselves, after a bitter row with them and with the support of White sympathizers in the queue, all we got was “we won’t discuss it …” so consequently, we insisted on getting in and moved onto the door. There was a little bit of scuffling and shoving subsequently and luckily or unfortunately rather, some officers arrived at the scene. After being humiliated in that way we did; did we expect some empathy from the law? No, instead they supported the bouncers. According to them, it was a private venue and they had the right to refuse admission to anyone they choose to. We were asked to leave or face being arrested otherwise. Well, as we are decent members of the community and not those Black hooligans that have just been refused entry, we had respect for the law and had no choice but leave.
My dispute is that if this so called establishment was classed as private, then
why has it got a license to deal with members of the public? It would have
been a different case if this was a private party say, a Members Only Club, we
were trying to get into. It is not like we were a bunch of idiots that can’t really
tell when we’ve been discriminated against…oh yea, they had a right to
discriminate (or choose rather) and we had a right to be victims of
discrimination. It’s just sad that after all we’ve been trough – all the riots and
protest, all the multiculturalism and equality propaganda - that even now,
racism still exists in a major city in Britain. One final suggestion for Town
House please put a big notice, somewhere visible where the thick Black
community can spot….. “No Niggers Please and no Hip-hop, R&B or any form
of Black Music”!

Thanks for that comment Ingrid. It seems to be very logical and I also had that idea lingering at the back of my head for a while. It’ll be very clever to admit a tiny number of ethnic minorities and use it as a defence in any racism accusation….whatever the case TOWNHOUSE, its still RASCISM!

Dear Mr King,



I write in reference to your email sent Wednesday, June 07, 2006. Firstly let me make it very clear that Townhouse takes all complaints very seriously.



In response to your complaint regarding the treatment you received from our door supervisors I would like to clarify a number of issues. The safety and protection of our customers and staff is our highest priority to ensure hundreds of customers enjoy a great night out every time they visit our venue.



Company policy dictates door supervisors do not give reasons why people have been refused entry, as this often only exacerbates the situation, and would inevitably lead to lengthy discussions, which prevent our door supervisors carrying out their necessary roles. It is also our policy to inform people as soon as possible, if they will not be allowed entry so as to minimise disruption to their evening, which is why a member of the door team informed you before you reached the front of the queue. I am confused as to why you would claim that these actions led you to believe you were being discriminated against on account of your race?



In response to your observations I would suggest that perhaps you were too superficial in your evaluation. Whilst it may be the case that you felt you looked of a suitable age, and you felt you were dressed appropriately to the enter the venue, the fact that you were to become involved in what you yourself described as a ‘bitter row’ raises questions regarding the attitude with which you approached our establishment. You claim that your friends have criticised Townhouse in the past, and it may be suggested that such criticisms had left you with a biased opinion of our venue, an opinion which almost certainly led you to conclude, incorrectly, that the actions of our staff were based on anything other than legitimate reasons for you to be refused entry to the venue.



Townhouse does not discriminate according to race, but we do have the right to refuse entry without giving an explanation. It is not uncommon for people who are refused entry to try and intimidate staff with threats of ageism, sexism or racism, and particularly to threaten to make such accusations public.



I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear that Townhouse’s success is largely attributable to the diversity of our clientele. Our customers come form a wide demographical range of race, sex and age, our door policy is completely legal, and in no way attempts to discriminate based on a persons race, religion or ability. I think that your final suggestion is not only crass and inflammatory, but it also shows the depth of your misconception, and perhaps points to the real reason why you were refused entry which would be your negative attitude. The fact that the police threatened you with arrest is surely testament to the inappropriate actions you displayed on the night.

Marketing Manager
Townhouse

[Personal details removed by IMC admin]

Thank you for replying. However, if you do take complaints seriously I would suggest that you will investigate into this matter rather than jump to conclusions as you advised…..or would that be a natural defence instinct, only because you know exactly what happened?
The only reason why the Police intervened was because we were insistent on knowing why we were being turned down. Apparently you have that right as you said, and they had the right to arbitrate or ask us to leave because you were well within you rights, even if we felt you were wrong. I think you would have felt bitter about a similar situation had you been treated like that but of course, you have never been exposed to such experience.
About the safety of your customers, what makes you think we posed a real danger to them; would you like my CRB Disclosure or rather have all Blacks present one before you let them in? Who said criminals can be judged by colour?
I have not been admitted once into a club before Townhouse but it never ended up like this. He was a very professional guy and explained the reason why in less than five seconds. I was wearing casual trainers which was contrary to their dress code for that night. That was not racism though he was White and I was then and still Black. All I said was a quick “...alright, I didn’t know, thanks for letting me know” and walked off.
My initial conclusion still holds as you have not been able to clarify why we got picked out of some 30 other people. Did we have tattoos on our foreheads that said “Black = Trouble makers, watch out”, if you are saying it could have been anything apart from racism? I am definitely not one of those less intelligent Black men you probably have been used to dealing with and think you should be able to give a more logical explanation (e.g. the racial quota was filled up for that night), if you value all complaints as you said.

Thank you for your time once again.

P. King

The reply from Leeds Townhouse to this complaint only adds insult to injury. There have been numerous instances of Townhouse discriminating against potential customers on grounds of race. I was talking to a number of city centre doormen at the weekend, and they told me the Townhouse is well known for its racist door policy.

Well, I guess its questionable if it is actually about race primarily. I don’t think the townhouse gives a shit who comes in as long as it maximises profit. Generally these are white middle class with disposable incomes to spend. They won’t go to a club where they are a minority (even if they are going to hear non-majority music) so the bouncers maintain a racial ratio.

They also admit to discriminating on the basis of sex –I’m not sure how they can legally do that…

I wonder if watchdog would be interested (yes not particularly the same as demonstrating but it would raise mainstream publicity around this issue)

Best

i

As an ex management member, after reading your comments on the racial issue at the townhouse in leeds I can truthfully say that there was a degree of racial discrimination enforced by the directors along with other criterea for the door policy.
This was discussed often at meetings with the directors.
You will also notice that the two main door people have been removed from the townhouse to work elsewhere to allow for a "re-profiling" of the clientelle and a new door picker has been put in place to enforce this.
I imagine that most of the complaints started towards the end of may when this "less ethnics" rule was rolled out.
And "no "reasons are not given on the door as was stated in the townhouse reply for refusals which has been a long standing criterea and is ,I have to agree, a good policy to save on confrontation and mixed messages.

Do the managers of the Town House think they are above the law?


 http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/23/newsid_2547000/2547669.stm