A new restaurant in the U.K. is backtracking after they shared a dress code for guests that was called out as “sexist.” Beluga, a high-end sushi restaurant and bar in Surrey, is set to open this week and they’re already generating quite a buzz. But this probably isn’t the kind of publicity they’re hoping for.
Beluga’s dress code was posted to their website and shared on social media, where people have slammed it for being “out of touch” and “misogynistic.” The restaurant and bar shared their rules, which include that you need to be on the guest list to get in and that admission is strictly by invite only, but it’s what they asked people to wear that led to the outrage:
● “Dress code is smart casuals with jackets for men, no tracksuits, no t-shirts”
● “You won’t be allowed entry if you wear hoodies, trainers, shorts, flip flops or any other sportswear.”
● “Women can wear skinny jeans with sexy black ankle-strap heels and a form-fitting top.”
● “Alternatively, there are many different types of dresses that would look good at a bar in the summer or winter, namely midi or bodycon dresses.”
Social media users were far from impressed by their fashion guidelines for women, posting comments like,
● “Your dress code is disgusting and sexist. A lot of people will be boycotting.”
● Another calls it “appallingly misogynistic.”
● And another writes, “Very 1980s pervy strip club dress code. Won’t be visiting anytime soon.”
Following the outrage, Beluga has removed the dress code from their website, claiming that the rules were “mistakenly published, and they issued an apology on Instagram. “The description was inappropriate, disrespectful and offensive and does not reflect the image we're seeking to promote,” the restaurant explains. “We wish to clarify that our policy is a smart dress code for men and women.”
HT: Mirror