A dad is calling on answers from a Hamilton restaurant after his son, who is a wheelchair user, was turned away despite having a booking.
Brian Kelly, 61, visited The Bombay Cottage with his son Declan Kelly, 30, on Saturday, March 18.
The family are regular customers at the eatery and were left feeling 'embarrassed' and 'angry' after they were refused a seat by staff due to Declan's disability, writes the Record.
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Brian said: "The experience really floored us, Declan has been all around the world and he's never been discriminated.
"I've been using Bombay Cottage for 30 years. On Friday night when I phoned, I did forget to mention that Declan was a wheelchair user, but we've been in there on a busy Saturday night before and it never was a problem."
They used a disabled ramp at the back of the venue to get in but they were asked to leave as they had not advised the Indian restaurant that there was a wheelchair user in the group.
The Uddingston dad said that he was asked twice by staff whether he had booked a table.
He said: "The staff member said 'you never told us he was in a wheelchair' to which I replied 'am I obliged to tell you he's in a wheelchair? Would I have to tell you if he had any other disabilities?'"
The 61-year-old added: "The member of staff replied 'we can't give you a table, you never told us he was in a wheelchair.
"I was totally shocked when we had to leave."
The Equality Act 2010 states changes or adjustments should be made to ensure people can access places such as bars and restaurants.
Under the Act, a lack of accessibility for both disabled employees and members of the public on premises can be considered discrimination.
Brian also claimed that the disabled toilet in the restaurant is regularly "full of chairs, tables and cleaning up stuff. It's used for storage basically."
He said: "My family and I are regular customers, and when my sister comes over from Philadelphia we're always there, but I tell you something they've lost a customer.
"I would never step foot in it again. And neither would Declan.
"I felt sorry for my son because he had the inclination at the time that it was his fault because he was in a wheelchair.
"We've been all over the world, in the states and across Europe and never had an issue."
The Bombay Cottage has been approached for comment by the Daily Record.
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