Liverpool’s Yee Rah Thai Restaurant Orders Blind Young Woman To Leave Because Of Her Guide Dog

A vulnerable blind teenager was ordered to leave by the boss of a Liverpool city centre restaurant because she had her guide dog with her.

The incident took place at the Yee Rah Thai restaurant in Paradise Street, part of the Liverpool One complex.

The mum of the 19-year-old woman, who is from Ormskirk but has asked not to be named, said her daughter had been left in tears by the restaurant manager’s actions.

She said: “My daughter visited the restaurant with a friend and they had just ordered two glasses of coke when the manager came over and told them they had to leave because pets were not allowed.

“It was perfectly clear it was a working or assistance dog but the manager said: ‘I don’t care, you’ve got to leave.’

“He did tell them they could sit outside with the dog. She was absolutely mortified by what happened and she came home very distressed and frustrated.

“She just wants to be treated the same as everyone else and to be able to go to a restaurant with confidence.”

The teenager’s guide dog, a two-year-old Labrador retriever called Leo, had his status clearly indicated by a harness and signs saying ‘do not distract me, I’m a working dog.’

Her mum added: “The guide dog is the best thing that’s ever happened to her. He’s changed her life and she wouldn’t have gone out without him.”

Her case has been taken up by assistant Mayor and city centre councillor Nick Small, who said: “All restaurants should be accessible to all people in the city and it’s disgusting that people are treated in this way.

“I’m calling on Yee Rah to give an explanation about this. I’m demanding they are accessible to everyone and allow working dogs to come into the restaurant.”

The incident has already attracted negative comments on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Yee Rah’s brand manager Rachael Clarke, said: “It absolutely is our policy to allow guide dogs into our restaurants. The conversation is between us and the guest and the investigation is ongoing. “It is our company policy across all restaurants that guide dogs are allowed to come in.”

A spokesperson for Liverpool One said: “We are concerned to hear about this but it is a matter for Yee Rah to comment on.”

Under the Equality Act, disabled people have the same right to services supplied by shops, banks, hotels, libraries, pubs, taxis and restaurants as everyone else.