A group of men were reportedly refused entry to Mulligans Irish pub in Manchester allegedly because they are from the Irish travelling community, sparking a discrimination row and a planned protest
A well-known Manchester pub says it has initiated an investigation after mobile phone footage appeared to show door staff denying entry to a group of young men because they are from the Irish travelling community.
Video posted on social media appears to show a security guard at Mulligans Irish pub in Manchester city centre engaged in a conversation with a group of men in which he tells them ‘this is not my decision’.
One of the men says: “Basically, what you’re saying is travellers aren’t allowed in Mulligans pub’. The doorman is heard to say the manager won’t speak to them. He adds: “That’s what they’re saying.”
Members of Manchester’s Irish traveller community say they will stage a peaceful demonstration in the city on Saturday (April 25) which will conclude with a gathering outside the pub on Southgate, reports the MEN.
A spokesperson for Mulligans maintained the pub welcomed people of all backgrounds, was proud of its own Irish heritage and was ‘reviewing the matter internally’.
The demonstration has been organised by a prominent member of Manchester’s Irish traveller community Tommy Joyce, who says the incident left the young men – all said to be from the same family – distressed. They are said to have concluded their evening there and then and went home. Mr Joyce told the Manchester Evening News: “They literally refused them entry because they’re Irish travellers. They were asked and they said they were Irish travellers because they’re proud of their heritage. If they hadn’t spoken, they would have been allowed in.”
“This is 2026. How can this be allowed to happen? It’s discrimination. We’re going to highlight this because we’re human beings. We’ve grown up in Manchester. I’m from Collyhurst. I feel like because of the way we speak we’re not allowed in the pubs and clubs in town.”
A spokesperson for Mulligans stated: “Mulligans is aware of a video circulating on social media and the planned protest this weekend, and takes the concerns raised very seriously.
“We want to be absolutely clear: Mulligans welcomes customers of all backgrounds. As a pub proud of its own Irish heritage, the suggestion that we would discriminate against any community is something we take particularly seriously.
“We have many valued customers from the Traveller community, and there is no blanket policy to refuse entry on the basis of ethnicity or background.
“We operate a very strict door policy because we want Mulligans to be a safe and welcoming environment for every customer. Like all licensed venues, we do refuse entry where specific individuals have previously caused issues on the premises – this policy applies equally to everyone, regardless of background.”