We spoke to an Inox Dine employee about yesterday’s protest

Free education protesters occupied controversial SU restaurant Inox Dine yesterday, in a demonstration against tuition fees and the ‘neo-liberal degradation’ of uni.

Socialists from both Hallam and Uni of took part, making the restaurant into a “safe learning space” by offering workshops and discussions throughout the day.

Two banners could be seen hung from the building

Some students even planned to sleep there overnight, despite being told by security services they’d be locked in the building should they choose to do so.

In a statement released on their Facebook page, they said they chose Inox as “it is designed purely to generate private profit, and is universally loathed by everyone who even knows it exists.

“It’s a vanity project which does little more than appeal to a marketisation agenda.”

An Inox Dine employee, who was working at the time of the occupation, told us: “It’s actually really, really tame. They’re all walking round in bare feet and pyjamas and now settling down to watch a film.

“Apparently someone was planning to piss on the carpet earlier. That’s just gross. We heard they’re planning on staying three days too.

The occupied restaurant

“We’re now having to get taxis over to Halifax Hall and move our entire Christmas event over there. They referred to it as ‘In-equality-ox Dine’ which is not only not very catchy but also not true, 2 courses for £12 on a lunchtime is hardly breaking the bank is it?

“Besides that I don’t think it’s a very appropriate place to protest. It’s hardly a sweatshop here. I’m a student and we get great pay, holiday pay and tips. Everyone loves it here.”