Footage has surfaced online showing a 22-year-old woman being denied access to Gourmet Burger Kitchen in The Trafford Centre, Manchester, after failing to demonstrate she was aged over 18. The establishment, located on the upper floor of the Orient, has now addressed the claims.
Customer's Experience
In footage shared on TikTok, Lia Clark claimed she was refused admission to the burger establishment as she lacked identification proving she exceeded 18 years of age. She stated: "We're trying to come in here to eat a burger, no alcohol. Nothing. A chicken burger."
She then explained she was questioned about possessing ID and informed that patrons must be over 19 to dine at the venue. Lia subsequently informed the staff member she was 22 years old, before showing a photograph of her passport. The employee then advised Lia that physical identification was required.
Upon noticing an infant was present within the restaurant, Lia challenged why the child was permitted entry, but was informed this was because the baby was accompanied by an adult aged over 18. She said: "I am shell-shocked, I have never heard nothing like that in my whole life. So if you want to come here for food, make sure you've got ID with you for a burger."
Restaurant's Response
In an official statement released to the Manchester Evening News, the restaurant stood firmly behind its policy, citing their licensing conditions as the driving force behind the decision. A spokesperson for GBK said: "Like pubs, clubs and other venues that serve alcohol, the conditions of our current licence state that guests must be aged 18 or over unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult."
The spokesperson added: "At times we need to check ID to verify a guest's age to ensure we are complying with the law. We operate a Check 25 policy to ensure we are compliant with our licence. As with pubs and other licensed premises, this means the original physical ID document rather than a photo on a mobile phone, which we are unable to accept."
"We appreciate this can sometimes be disappointing for guests, and we understand the frustration this has caused. However, our team were simply following the requirements of our licence and applying them consistently. While we never want to turn anyone away, we are pleased the guest was able to find an alternative place to eat within the centre."
