‘That’s too white to be your name’: Manchester students’ worst experiences with bouncers

Bouncers: The gate keepers between you and a good night out. You’re rat arsed already, because there’s no way you’re paying for drinks inside, and you and all your mates are trying to keep a lid on it. But first, there’s the queue.

Some bouncers take security checks to an uncomfortable level, with girls being asked to shake their bras and guys getting a finger search around the top of their boxers. Others stalk down the 200-person queue, looking to grab your half-finished Dragon Soop and throw it into the road.

Then, finally, you’re at the door – but the bloke in front of you is having absolutely none of it. He won’t listen. Because this is his club, and this is the one time in the day that he can feel important. And just like that, you’re either turned away or dragged out, and your night is over before it even started. Worse still, is when the bouncer confiscates your ID and refuses to give it back – even though it’s real, and you turned 18 four and a half years ago.

We spoke to six students about their worst experiences with bouncers in Manchester. No nightclubs are named, but you’ll probably guess a few. 

‘That’s too white to be your name’

Lily*, a third year sociology student told The Manchester Tab that, on a night out in the city, a bouncer pestered her with questions about her ethnicity, asking her: “Are you Malaysian? Are you Filipino? Are you Vietnamese? Can I have your number?”

She eventually replied with her name, to be told: “That’s too white to be your name”, as he laughed in her face.

 ‘Your boyfriend isn’t taking good enough care of you’

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Flo, a second year English student told us that, after leaving a nightclub, a bouncer wrapped his arm around her, called her “gorgeous” and asked for her Snapchat. Pretending to have a boyfriend, a sad trick we’ve all resorted to, he refused to let her leave saying that her “boyfriend wasn’t taking good enough care of her.” None of the other security staff intervened.

‘Go back to the Juicy Couture factory where you came from’

Skylar*, a third year geography student, said that after seeing her Turkish ID, another bouncer told her to: “Go back to the Juicy Couture factory where [she] came from.” 

‘He pulled me off a windowsill’

Third year English and drama student, Kara, described being sat on a windowsill when a bouncer grabbed both her legs and pulled her to the floor, whilst she was wearing heels. He then proceeded to swear at her for a couple minutes and stormed off. 

‘He told me to take off my football shirt because it was against dress code, then didn’t let me in anyway’

Megan*, a third year chemistry student, explained how a bouncer humiliated her. After she was asked to remove her football shirt as it was against the dress code, she waited in the queue, shivering in the freezing cold in just a sports bra, but was turned away once she reached the front anyway. 

Being harassed after being kicked out of a takeaway

Poor bouncer conduct isn’t just limited to the clubs. Skye, third year biological science student recalled that her friend, after collecting her order from a late night takeaway spot, was shouted at by the security guard to leave. She waited outside for her friends when she started getting verbally harassed by a strange man, and asked if she could come back in to get away from him.

The security guard refused and the girl was left outside, on her own, at 4am.

Our advice?

Whether you’ve done something that actually does warrant you getting kicked out, or you’ve just been unfortunately picked to be a bouncer’s example for the night, stay safe and keep close to your friends. And, it’s worth bearing in mind that the Equality Act of 2010 states that when someone provides you a service, even if you don’t pay for it, you must not be discriminated against because of a protected characteristic (i.e. race, religion, sex, sexual orientation).

A security guard can only search you and your bag if you consent to it, but it’s likely if you refuse you won’t be let in. If you are made uncomfortable or assaulted by a bouncer, report it to club managers and the police. 

*Names have been changed for anonymity