A 63-year-old woman has shared her experience of feeling “humiliated” after being asked to leave a popular waterside pub in South Australia. Kerrie Ashby was at the Colley Hotel on Sunday with a friend when a manager approached them and requested they leave the premises.
“The staff were looking at us—I’m used to being looked at, and it doesn’t bother me,” Ms. Ashby told news.com.au. However, when she asked for the menu, she was met with a security presence behind her, and the manager informed her that she was being refused entry due to the pub’s policy against facial tattoos.
Ms. Ashby has a mandala tattoo along her hairline and a sea creature design on her neck, which she got for her 60th birthday as a way to embrace her alopecia. She was taken aback, expecting to be told the kitchen was closed, especially since the dining area appeared empty.
This incident left her confused, particularly as she had previously visited the venue under the new ownership without any issues. “It was a shock to my character to be refused entry,” she remarked. “I was gobsmacked. I wasn’t angry; I felt a bit humiliated. It seemed unwarranted and unjustified. It’s not a reasonable cause.”
Ms. Ashby emphasized that she dresses well, is not a troublemaker, and is well-known in the Glenelg community. “I was just really shocked,” she added. She also pointed out the difficulty in enforcing such a policy, questioning how it applies to those with tattooed eyebrows, eyeliner, or lip liner.
According to the pub’s website, its dress code includes a note that “persons with facial tattoos are not permitted to enter the venue.” The venue’s representatives stated that while pubgoers are generally allowed to have facial tattoos, they must be covered unless they hold religious or cultural significance.
“We respect personal expression and tattoos; many of our staff have them. We embrace body art that reflects cultural significance and individuality,” said a spokesperson for the pub. “However, we ask that neck and face tattoos be covered, along with anything that might be deemed aggressive or explicit, similar to how some might display colorful language on their knuckles. This policy aims to ensure that all our guests, community members, and families feel safe.”
The spokesperson extended an invitation to Ms. Ashby, who had initially attempted to contact the venue but had her email bounce back, to return and seek a resolution.
This incident isn’t the first time a venue’s tattoo policy has faced scrutiny. Earlier this year, Survivor star Jaiden Laing encountered a similar issue at the Burleigh Pavilion in Queensland. The popular beachside pub has a policy prohibiting entry to individuals with “intimidating, aggressive, or offensive tattoos,” which applies even if the tattoos are not visible.
Mr. Laing, who has prominent tribal tattoos on his upper body and neck, attempted to bypass the policy by wearing a black turtleneck. However, this plan did not succeed. In a social media video, he humorously stated that he would be “the first Islander in Burleigh Pav with neck tattoos in history.” His efforts were quickly thwarted when staff members questioned him about his tattoos, leading to a cordial but firm interaction that concluded with handshakes and apologies.
According to the Burleigh Pavilion’s website, its strict policy does not allow anyone with tattoos above the shoulder to enter. “Guests with tattoos are welcome at our venue; however, we do not permit intimidating, aggressive, or offensive tattoos, clothing, or behavior that may offend or intimidate other guests or staff,” the website states. It further clarifies that tattoos on the neck, head, and face are viewed as increasingly intimidating.
This practice is common among licensed venues and aims to ensure all guests have a comfortable experience. The venue retains the right to refuse entry to anyone deemed unsuitable.
Last year, Burleigh Pavilion made headlines after turning away a mother, Katie Hally, due to tattoos on her upper back and lower neck. The establishment later issued an apology, stating that Ms. Hally “should have been welcomed into the venue.”
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