A Dundee bar owner has apologised after a bouncer refused entry to a local woman because of her visible neck tattoos.
Carol Paterson, one of hundreds of people who attended the city’s major tattoo convention at Abertay Union at the weekend, said she was “mortified” when she was refused entry to the West House bar.
The make-up artists and tattoo model was sworn at and told to “move on” by the bouncer after she tried to enter the bar with friends.
She said: “I walked up to the door with my two friends and my colleagues and the guy just said, ‘sorry, my manager’s really against tattoos, so I can’t let you in’.
“I couldn’t believe it and told him that was ridiculous.
“I was totally shocked and mortified to be honest. That’s never happened to me before.”
Andrew McMahon, who owns the bar, has now issued a full apology.
He said: “As the owner of the West House I would like to apologise profusely for (this incident). The doorman that refused you was from an outside agency.
“He has let myself and my business down massively and has created a horrendous impression, but most importantly he caused you great offence.
“We have no house rules in regard to tattoos, many of my friends, family, customers, regulars, and even the majority of my staff have tattoos. So in no way do I have any issues with them.”
A spokesman for SecuriGroup, who confirmed the company supplies door staff to West House, declined to comment.
The organiser of the Dundee Tattoo Convention, which enjoyed more than 500 attendees, said that discrimination against people with tattoos still exists.
Ky Thomassn-Kay, 40, said: “It simply comes down to someone making a very bad judgment call and I’m quite surprised it happened.
“In the past tattoos have been associated with prisoners, members of the armed forces or biker gangs and people on the edge of society but in the last decade it’s become mainstream and that’s down to the quality of the artwork.
“There shouldn’t be a stigma attached to tattoos these days and if someone has preconceptions then they’re the one with the problem.”