A Cardiff couple exempt from wearing face masks say they felt "humiliated" after a bar refused to let them in.
A 37-year old man from Gloucestershire, who gave his name only as Alex, told WalesOnline that he and his partner visited Eagle Bar on Charles Street on the night of Saturday June 5, and that they were allegedly turned away as neither of them was wearing face coverings - despite carrying lanyards explaining that they were exempt.
The couple was allegedly initially refused entry by the doorman at the venue, before the bar’s manager told them that they would not be allowed in if they did not wear a mask.
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The bar - which recently saw its namesake Eagle 50 close down after 27 years - has stood firmly by its decision, saying that it was at its full capacity at the time of the incident, before adding that the couple were “well inebriated and abusive” and had provided a “less than creditable” exemption statement.
But Alex denies these claims, saying that neither he nor his partner drinks alcohol and that the bar manager was “completely wrong” in the confrontation, which left them feeling “humiliated" and "physically sick with anxiety and upset”.
The couple says they are both exempt from wearing face masks as they both suffer from anxiety and other undisclosed health conditions.
While there is a legal requirement for everyone aged 11 and over in Wales to wear a face-covering in all indoor public places, the Welsh Government says there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear one.
Welsh Government coronavirus guidelines state that people may have a reasonable excuse not to wear a face-covering if they are unable to due to a physical or mental illness, condition or impairment.
Those accompanying somebody who relies on lip-reading and cannot access a clear face covering, as well as people escaping from a threat or danger without a mask, are also exempt.
Exemption cards and badges - which the couple said they presented to bar staff upon arrival - are not required to be shown by law, but are a personal choice.
According to the Welsh Government: “Whether somebody has a reasonable excuse not to wear a face-covering will not always be obvious.
“Disabilities and impairments are not always visible to others, such as neurodevelopmental conditions, and respect and understanding should be shown to those who have good reasons not to wear face coverings.
“Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.”
Despite this guidance, Alex said that he was repeatedly told by the bar manager, as well as members of the public, that the badge he had downloaded from the government website was “unofficial” and “the wrong one”.
He said: “This was the first time my partner had visited a gay bar - we both struggle with anxiety and he was extremely nervous, especially with the Covid situation.
“However, we both ensured we had our exemption badge and lanyard around our necks and on display in order to enter the bar.
“But upon arrival we were greeted at the door by the doorman, who said we had to put a mask on or there would be no entry. I explained this was incorrect, but the manager then spoke to me and gave false information that you can’t enter a bar without wearing a mask.
“I explained to him that I was wearing a badge downloaded from the government website and that it was the official print out that is advised - but not required - to be shown in such a premises, but he completely refused my entry.”
Alex said that he stayed calm but assertive during the confrontation, and still has no idea why he and his partner were refused entry.
He said: “I remained calm, I didn’t shout or swear like most people would have, but at the same time I tried to stand my ground and explain to the manager how he was completely wrong regarding the rules of mask and badge wearing.
“My partner and I left feeling upset and what little self-esteem and confidence we had before was knocked. It was a disaster which turned into our evening being ruined - we felt physically sick with anxiety and upset."
However, in a statement, the bar's owner, Haydn Price, defended his decision, saying the venue “takes the pandemic seriously” and refused entry to the couple “in the interests of customers’ health and safety”.
Mr Price said: “Eagle is a small city centre bar with, under Covid restrictions, a capacity for about 30 people, seated throughout the bar.
“It was late on Saturday night, after 11pm. We were full, with one or two tables reserved for some late-night regulars.
“At about this time, we were confronted by two clearly, in our opinion, well-inebriated men. They had never been to Eagle before and demanded admission but didn’t wear a mask, a precondition of entry set by the Welsh Government.
“He demanded he be let in because he claimed to be exempt and it was his right to enter. In fairness, he showed a hand-written, less than creditable exemption statement. It was not like anything we’d seen before.
“Added to this, he claimed to have spent £10 on a taxi from Bristol specifically to come to Eagle, clearly adding to our judgement that he’d had one too many.
“Mask or not, he and his companion would have been refused admission on any night due to his abusive nature and apparent inebriated condition. As a licensee, it is my right to make a choice on who we allow in the building and who we don’t.
“Eagle is a small bar and, in the interest of the health and safety of all our customers, we take the pandemic seriously - and customers’ safety from potentially other abusive customers spoiling a hitherto peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.”
However, Alex denied these claims, saying that he had actually told the manager he had taken a taxi from Mowgli’s Indian restaurant on Crwys Road in Cathays to the club, which had cost more than £7.
Screenshots of an Uber trip receipt seen by WalesOnline appear to confirm this and also show that the couple arrived at the venue before 10pm.
