An allergy sufferer from Manchester was left to eat a Sainsbury’s meal deal whilst out to dinner with friends, after being refused service by a local restaurant on account of her food allergies.
Despite having already signed an allergy waiver at the eatery and travelling home to get her EpiPen, at a personal cost of £16 in taxis, Megan Seymour, 22, was ultimately left to fend for herself during a recent visit to glitzy Salford sushi restaurant Firefly.
The vegan communications advisor from Manchester is used to being asked by staff about her allergies when dining out but said on this occasion she was made to feel like she had ‘a contagious disease’ after the trip to the glamorous sushi joint, reports Lydia Patrick.
“For someone who has dealt with serious issues with eating this entire experience was rather traumatic. I was made to feel as though I couldn’t eat and was unwanted as a customer”, she told The Manc.
All began well, with the group ordering cocktails and admiring their surroundings before being asked by their server if anyone had any food allergies – a textbook procedure.
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Megan explained that she was seriously allergic to both nuts and fish, and, as part of FIrefly’s procedure, she was then asked by their server if she had her EpiPen. She did not.
“I had left it in another bag at home which was admittedly a silly mistake and agreed I would go and pick it up,” she said.
Whilst she left to make the 30-minute round trip home to collect it, the rest of her group were told they could order while they waited – only to be informed shortly after by another team member that they would have to wait until Megan had shown her EpiPen.
£16 in Ubers later Megan returned, armed with her EpiPen, and signed a waiver stating that even though Firefly had done everything they could, there remained a risk of cross-contamination and trace ingredients.
In the case that Megan did have an allergic reaction, the restaurant would not be liable.
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With the whole group hungry and eager to eat at this point, orders were placed – with Megan opting for three vegan dishes from a special allergen menu in order to be extra careful.
Twenty minutes later, the group was approached by another member of staff and informed that Megan would not be served after all.
Firefly’s staff said this was due to the fact that the food had been in contact with seaweed, and she was told: “seaweed may contain fish.”
Megan felt confident that she would be fine, having eaten seaweed many times before whilst traveling around Asia, but the restaurant would not concede.
By way of apology, the staff offered her a complimentary cocktail, which she accepted, but after watching her friends enjoy their food whilst eating a Sainsbury’s meal deal herself she ultimately left feeling disappointed.
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This sour taste was not helped by the addition of a service charge on the bill, which the group of diners contested and was ultimately removed by staff.
Megan said: “I was made to feel as though I was an issue, that my allergies made me a nuisance and an inconvenience to them.
“I genuinely was made to feel like I had a contagious disease and was looked down upon.”
What’s more, it does not seem that the incident at Firefly was a one-off as a number of customers have reported similar experiences.
A week after Megan’s ordeal Kay, a dental nurse from Manchester, reported having a similar experience.
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Whilst dining out with friends for a birthday celebration, the dental nurse – also a vegan – informed their server when asked that she had a mild allergy to prawns which causes her tongue to swell slightly.
She had already taken antihistamines as a precautionary measure and explained, after being asked to show her EpiPen, that her allergy is not severe enough to warrant one.
She also offered to sign a waiver taking full responsibility if she were to have a reaction after dining from the restaurant’s plant-based menu, but says this was refused by staff.
The dental nurse said: “I’ve never in all my life been treated like that. I just wanted to cry, I couldn’t sit there and watch all my friends eat. It made me feel so small.
“They even locked the door near where we were sat as if we were going to run off without paying the bill.”
Kay was given three complimentary cocktails by way of apology and managed to sneak some vegan food from her friend’s plate, but ultimately left hungry and upset by the experience.
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Reviews on the restaurant’s TripAdvisor page also point to this being a recurring issue.
In a recent review, entitled ‘Horrific with Allergies’, customer Megan N writes: “Never felt so uncomfortable in a restaurant ever. They have no care for the customers, they only want to cover their own backs if something did happen.
“The processes they were following made me think that someone had died from an allergic reaction here and they couldn’t face this happening to them again.”
Firefly restaurant owner Christian Coates said in a comment: “At Firefly we care about our guests’ safety and experience whilst dining in the restaurant. As part of our procedure for any visitors with allergies we would only ever serve food if we thought it was safe to do so.
“Every allergy is different, the circumstances and risk levels are different, but we have to follow a process, so we take any allergy incredibly seriously.
“If this has been received or interpreted as a negative experience then it’s only in place to protect the well-being and safety of the customer.”
Feature image – Firefly
News
Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night
Daisy Jackson
The opening night at Co-op Livewas marred by ‘a venue-related technical issue’ (something fell from the ceiling), triggering further delays to the huge new Manchester arena and even more rescheduled shows.
The ground-breaking new arena, which will be the largest indoor venue in the UK when it actually opens, has once again had to postpone its official launch.
In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday 1 May, fans who were already queueing outside Co-op Live were told the A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie concert had been cancelled.
Then followed further postponed gigs, with the venue also pulling the plug on Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour which was meant to visit Manchester on Friday and Saturday.
The Co-op Live has already rescheduled Peter Kay twice, as well as The Black Keys – and now more future gigs are being pushed back.
And now the question on everyone’s lips is whether Take That, Keane, or other huge shows will go ahead as planned.
It all happened pretty quickly last night, so here’s an essential recap of all the drama.
Which Co-op Live shows have been postponed or cancelled so far?
So far, the 23,500-capacity venue has had to reschedule or indefinitely postpone eight different events.
These have included Peter Kay, who was lined up to perform two gigs, which have now been moved twice.
The only event that has gone ahead so far has been a test event with Rick Astley, and even that saw thousands of tickets cancelled at the last minute to safely reduce capacity inside (we were one of the lucky few to go, and it does look amazing inside).
Then there was obviously the last-minute drama when A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was cancelled while fans were already outside Co-op Live, and then pop star Olivia Rodrigo having TWO gigs rescheduled.
Here’s the full list:
Peter Kay – original dates 23 and 24 April. Rescheduled dates 29 and 30 April. NEW DATES 23 and 24 May.
The Black Keys – original date 27 April. New date 15 May 2024.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – original date 1 May. New date to be confirmed.
Olivia Rodrigo – original dates 3 and 4 May. New dates to be confirmed.
What’s on next at the Co-op Live arena?
Take That is still scheduled to go ahead at Co-op Live after some other shows were cancelled.
Despite these high-profile cancellations, the Co-op Live still has plenty of incredible shows lined up in the coming weeks.
Notably, Take That have essentially planned a residency that will see them take over the huge venue for SEVEN nights.
At the time of writing, the following shows will still be going ahead this month. Fingers crossed everyone…
Keane – 5 May
Take That – 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 May, then 11 and 12 June.
Elbow – 14 May
The Black Keys – 15 May (rescheduled from 27 April)
Eric Clapton – 18 May
Barry Manilow – 19 May
Peter Kay – 23 and 24 May (rescheduled from 23 and 24 April)
Nicki Minaj – 25 and 30 May
Eagles – 31 May, then 1, 4, 7 and 8 June
Olivia Rodrigo statement and updates
Olivia Rodrigo has had her Co-op Live gigs rescheduled. Credit: Nick Walker
Olivia Rodrigo is arguably the most high-profile music event to be postponed at Co-op Live so far, with the pop sensation due to perform two sold-out shows.
It’s all part of her GUTS world tour and was meant to visit Manchester on 3 and 4 May.
Although her two shows this week have definitely been postponed, Co-op Live have yet to announce new dates.
In a statement, she sad: “I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m sooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to on-going venue-related technical issues.
“We’re doing our best to reschedule the show. you can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticket holders.
“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”
Why has the Co-op Live opening been postponed again?
Co-op Live’s initial delay was caused by ‘power supply issues’ and they postponed several shows to test emergency services communications.
It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.
Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.
“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”
What Co-op Live have said about the delays
As A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s gig was cancelled, Co-op Live said: “Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead. We kindly ask fans to leave the area. Tickets holders will receive further information in due course. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
On Olivia Rodrigo, a statement released said: “Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
And as for the future of the venue’s opening schedule, they said: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.
“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.
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“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”
Co-op Live should announced details of rescheduled dates in due course.
Manchester Museum has been shortlisted for the 2024 Art Fund Museum of the Year
Danny Jones
Another bit of very well-deserved recognition for our city as the Manchester Museum has been shortlisted for the 2024 Art Fund Museum of the Year.
Organised by the independent and membership-based British charity, which raises funds through the collection of important works and artefacts, it’s world the single largest museum prize in the world.
Shining as one of the crown jewels in Manchester’s cultural scene, the museum has been named among five other impressive finalists for this year’s award, which is evaluating inspiring projects from autumn 2022 through to winter 2023.
This wonderful news comes at a good time for Manchester Museum, which recently welcomed its one-millionth visitor since reopening to the public in February last year, following a £15 million values-led redevelopment. It really is back with a bang.
With Art Fund keeping audiences and communities at their heart, the highly revered accolade has a particular focus on community engagement, sustainable ways of working, and demonstration of ambition by reinventing what it means to be ‘the best’ museum for the audiences of today and tomorrow.
For context, the Manchester Museum (which sits as part of the University of Manchester) was the most visited indoor museum in the North of England throughout 2023, despite being shut for an entire month, welcoming a total of 790,332 people through their doors.
Speaking on this year’s selection, director Jenny Waldman, who heads up the 2024 judging panel, has applauded each of this year’s finalists for delivering “something for everyone” and keeping “community at the very heart of their programming.”
“Their commitment to innovative partnerships whilst operating within an extremely challenging funding environment is incredible”, she added. “I’m so pleased to see the way they support and centre young people through their work.
“Across a wide range of size and scale, these organisations are all real leaders in their field. I urge everyone to go and visit these extremely special spaces.” So do we.
We’d recommend going along to Stand the T-Rex aloneYou’ve got to see the giant Japanese spider crab(Credit: Manchester Museum/Matthew via Flickr)
As for the museum themselves, DirectorEsme Ward said of the announcement: “Manchester Museum’s redevelopment was the result of 10 years’ collective endeavour, so being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year is a moment of joy for everyone to share in, from staff and partners to our communities and Manchester itself.
“It is an affirmation of museums’ power to bring people together in building a more inclusive, hopeful future.”
Built on self-proclaimed values of “inclusion, imagination and care”, the museum’s recent reopening has positioned it at the forefront of the sector here in the UK, with new galleries, partnerships, visitor facilities, sector-leading programming and digital innovations.
These updates, along with their existing and award-winning South Asia Gallery – the largest and first permanent gallery in the UK to celebrate the experiences and contribution of the South Asian diaspora co-curated by members from the community itself – are what have helped put it in the running for this prestigious prize.
Visitor numbers for the first year following reopening were up 157% on 2019/20, with 57% of those being new attendees and more than one in seven’s first trip to a museum ever.
The other four shortlisted museums are the Craven Museum in Skipton, North Yorkshire; Dundee Contemporary Arts, the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Young V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum, also in the capital.
The winning museum will be announced at a ceremony at the National Gallery in London on 10 July and will receive £120,000 to put towards internal projects and cultural work. Better still, £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists, so everyone’s a winner in a way.
Congratulations again to everyone at Manchester Museum and well done for all your incredible hard work – we can’t wait to be right about you again in a couple of months when we’re confident you’ll be rightly named as the winner of the 2024 Art Fund Museum of the Year.