Two disabled friends were refused a table at an Indian restaurant when the owner decided they looked ‘too ill to eat’.
Rhys Bowler and Skye Jordan were turned away after allegedly being told they were making other diners feel uncomfortable.
The owner of the Rahil Tandoori in Barry, South Wales, has admitted refusing to serve the pair because ‘their condition was so bad’ but has since apologised.
Rhys, 36, said: ‘He isn’t a doctor, who is he to decide whether I’m well enough to have an Indian meal, something I really enjoy?
‘It was very embarrassing, especially when he tried to put the blame on the other customers.’
Rhys and Skye say the owner made the excuse that he was not medically trained and offered them a takeaway instead.
Diners on the only two occupied tables denied they had complained and walked out in disgust.
Rhys, who has the genetic disorder Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, relies on a motorised wheelchair with an oxygen tank.
Skye Jordan and Rhys Bowler were turned away after allegedly being told they were making other diners feel uncomfortable
Restaurant owner Mohammed Nazrul Alom, 53, (pictured) says the pair’s social media shaming campaign could put him out of business after 18 years running the curry house in Holton Road, Barry
The owner of the Rahil Tandoori in Barry, South Wales, has admitted refusing to serve the pair because ‘their condition was so bad’. The restaurant is pictured
But he lives a full and active life, has a degree in computer animation and has recently travelled to Florida and Las Vegas.
He and Skye, who has fibromyalgia, used to be in a heavy metal band and regularly meet up for a drink and a bite to eat.
They were with Rhys’s carer and Skye’s ex-husband Gareth when they visited the Rahil restaurant, just five minutes from Skye’s home in Barry.
Rhys, from Treforest, Pontypridd, said: ‘We had booked a table and were looking forward to a meal – I like spicy food. But as soon as we went in I sensed there was a problem.
‘They asked my carer to go outside and after a minute or two she came back in and said we were being asked to leave.
‘Skye was absolutely furious – she used to eat there with her father before she became disabled.’
Mother-of-one Skye, who has had fibromyalgia for 15 years, asked other diners if they had complained and were told ‘absolutely not’.
Skye, who runs a market stall selling novelty gifts and T-shirts, said: ‘They were disgusted and one lot left and followed us to the pub where they bought us drinks.’
Rhys, who has the genetic disorder Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, relies on a motorised wheelchair with an oxygen tank
Mother-of-one Skye, who has had fibromyalgia for 15 years, asked other diners if they had complained and were told ‘absolutely not’
She continued: ‘I am so angry at the way we were treated. The manager said he was not medically trained, it was very unpleasant.
‘We didn’t go there to be medically treated, we went there to eat.
‘I wish I’d taken up his offer of a takeaway now, I would have shoved it in his face.’
Rhys, who is saving up for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia, hit back at the restaurant by posting on social media.
He said: ‘Not like me to rant on here but tonight, me and my friend Skye Jordan got refused service at an Indian restaurant and practically kicked out, because I was quote ‘too ill to eat there’ and that I was making the other guests feel ‘uncomfortable.’
Restaurant owner Mohammed Nazrul Alom, 53, says the pair’s social media shaming campaign could put him out of business after 18 years running the curry house in Holton Road, Barry.
He told MailOnline: ‘We have served so many disabled people in that time but their condition was so bad.
‘We were concerned about their health condition and if they had any allergies.
‘They are special people but we don’t have special facilities for them.
‘We don’t have a disabled toilet or disabled access.
‘He had a mask and a big gas cylinder on the back of his wheelchair – we were scared.
‘But we don’t discriminate against disabled people.
‘I have apologised to them, I’m sorry but to be honest, they are complaining so much, I may have to shut down the business.’
Mr Alom claimed he was so upset by the incident it brought on a heart event and an ambulance was called to his restaurant.
He said the matter was now in the hands of his solicitors and he issued the following statement.
‘I confirm that the people in question did attend my restaurant on the 14th January 2025.
Rhys, who is saving up for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia, hit back at the restaurant by posting on social media
Skye said: ‘We didn’t go there to be medically treated, we went there to eat’
‘I had not previously seen them and I was immediately concerned that the two wheelchair users were too ill to attend a restaurant.
‘One was on a ventilator and the other was also extremely disabled.
‘I was immediately concerned as to their welfare as I am not a medically qualified person and if something had happened, I would not have been in a position to help.
‘Consequently I asked if they would leave. English is not my first language and there may have been some confusion as other diners had not complained.
‘I do not discriminate against disabled diners, and we welcome them to our restaurant.
‘However, in my opinion when I saw the two disabled persons I felt that they were too ill to eat and I was concerned that if something had happened I would not have been able to cope.
‘This was my subjective opinion. I might add that upon leaving the party in question threatened to discredit my business as much as possible and would use social media to do this. This greatly upset me.’
