Man With Facial Disfigurement Removed From Restaurant After Complaints

 

A man with a facial disfigurement claims he was asked to leave a restaurant because he was "scaring customers."

Oliver Bromley, 42, was at King’s College Hospital in Camberwell, southeast London, receiving treatment when he decided to grab lunch at a nearby restaurant. After placing his order, a staff member informed him that they had received complaints about his appearance and requested that he leave.

Oliver has a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1, which causes non-cancerous tumors to grow on his nerves. Upset by the incident, he later wrote to the restaurant but did not receive a response.

He is now sharing his story to raise awareness about his condition and to help prevent similar situations for others. Oliver has contacted Nerve Tumours UK, a charity that advocates for individuals with his condition, which noted that incidents like Oliver's are unfortunately common. The organization has arranged meetings with UKHospitality to promote awareness in the hospitality industry.

Oliver, who currently helps run an NHS mental health crisis helpline but is off work, explained that he had just entered the restaurant to order food when he was confronted. “I hadn’t even sat down. I went to place my order, and they asked me to leave,” he said. He expressed disbelief that someone could complain about him so quickly.

Feeling hurt and shocked, Oliver sought solace in a local park to reflect on the incident. After reaching out to the restaurant without receiving a response, he reported the situation to the Metropolitan Police, who classified it as a hate crime. The police confirmed they took the report seriously, though no arrests have been made.

Nerve Tumours UK director, Karen Cockburn, expressed disappointment at the incident, stating, “We work tirelessly to raise both the profile of the condition and to educate the wider public.” She mentioned that if Oliver felt discriminated against, he might have a case under the 2010 Equalities Act, which protects individuals with severe disfigurements.

The charity has reached out to the restaurant and UKHospitality, and although they haven't heard back from the restaurant, UKHospitality is eager to collaborate to increase awareness about Neurofibromatosis Type 1 within the hospitality sector.