Redcaps protest at Darlington nightclub snub

8:30am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author Exclusive By Andy Walker, Chief Reporter (Darlington)

Inside Out nightclub in Darlington Inside Out nightclub in Darlington

A NORTH-EAST nightclub is again embroiled in controversy following claims that a group of military policemen were sworn at and refused entry for being in the Armed Forces – two years after a similar incident.

An investigation is under way at Inside Out, in Darlington, after soldiers based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, said they were turned away because door staff mistook them for troublemakers.

Last night, pub management denied the club operated a “no Armed Forces” policy and insisted the venue was no different to others in the town.

The club was drawn into a similar row two years ago, when marine commando Stephen McCabe was told he was not welcome.

In the most recent incident, on Monday, September 10, six members of the Royal Military Police were stopped by door staff, who asked for identification, before refusing them entry once it became clear they were in the Armed Forces.

It is claimed the group were sworn at by door staff before being left with no choice but to leave.

Corporal Marc Dehavilland, who is due for deployment to Afghanistan with the rest of his unit next month, said he had experienced similar problems elsewhere in Darlington on previous nights.

He expressed anger at the group’s treatment, saying Armed Forces personnel receive a warmer welcome at other towns and cities in the region. Cpl Dehavilland, 26, said: “When the first member of our group showed ID to the door staff, the door man immediately said ‘are you all Army?’, to which we replied yes.

“Once he heard this, he told us we were not getting in and told us to go away.

“Stunned, we asked for a reason, and he went on to explain that they no longer let anyone in the military into their establishment, as we are apparently all trouble-makers.

“We then explained we were all military policemen and the last thing we do is cause trouble.

If anything, we are the ones who stop other soldiers causing trouble.

“This had no luck, however, as the main doorman started to become aggressive and refused our request to speak to the manager.”

Darlington is a popular choice of night out for troops at Catterick Garrison, 15 miles away.

Cpl Dehavilland, who said the incident had put him off coming back to the town for a night out, said: “This is not only a sign of disrespect, considering the job that we do, not to mention the fact that we are only a few weeks from deploying to Afghanistan, but an absolute outrage in the way we were treated and spoken to, when all we wanted to do was go out for a few drinks.”

The Northern Echo understands door security at Inside Out is operated by Tynesidebased Phoenix Security. No one from the company was available for comment yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the Ladhar Group, which runs Inside Out, said there was no blanket ban on forces personnel at the venue.

She confirmed an investigation was under way and said: “Initial inquiries confirm no complaint has been made to the premises or the authorities in respect of this alleged incident.

“Inside Out is a popular late-night venue and operates strict door policies to ensure that the licensing laws are upheld.

“Those policies seek to prevent crime and disorder and public nuisance, promote public safety and protect children from harm.

“The policies are in no way discriminatory and are approved by the police and the licensing authority, with whom the operators have a good working relationship.”

Comments(31)

pandorica says...
9:14am Thu 20 Sep 12

Inside Out is the worst nightspot in Darlington, the door staff are arogant rude and nasty so if i was the soldiers be glad because you aint missing much. Its well known for all the troible, fights. drugs that happens on their. So from someone who has had to deal with incidents from here go enjoy your night somwhere with a lot more class, and where you will be welcomed.

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Quaker Boy says...
9:30am Thu 20 Sep 12

Totally agree with pandorica. It amazes me how the Police and Council have allowed the place to remain open.

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Jaga says...
9:44am Thu 20 Sep 12

The words penned by Kipling well over a century ago, still ring out:-

"I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The club should have its licence withdrawn.

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swissball says...
10:04am Thu 20 Sep 12

this is an absolute disgrace, it makes me feel ashamed to be a resident in Darlington - boycott the place!!!!!!!!!

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Liamsm says...
10:40am Thu 20 Sep 12

Firstly let me start by saying what these guys and girls do for Queen & Country makes me proud to be English. Secondly the club does need knocking down…the sooner the better for me. However, the squadies in the town have a dreadful reputation probably on a par with the travelling community. Why? I will tell you why! They are a nightmare when they have drink in them, they think they are untouchable, looking for agro left right and centre, urinating in the streets and a total lack of respect for others. I popped into Darlington last Saturday afternoon with my son for a bite to eat and came across 10 squadies. I am not kidding you they were throwing food, knocking drinks over, swearing and fighting amongst themselves. I know there is good and bad in everyone, however I have never seen a good one. I will never go back to the same place again for food with my family for this reason.

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ChezzaB says...
10:43am Thu 20 Sep 12

Why anyone would want to go in there is beyond me it should have been boycotted after the first incident. I'm pleased they are being publicly shamed again along with the security firm and hopefully this time people will stay away. Our Armed Forces hard earned money is as good as anyone else's, I'm sure there is better places in Darlington where they'd be welcomed and able to buy a drink without a problem. As for the door staff they're probably intimidated by soldiers because they do a job that they wouldn't have the balls to do.

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schmuck says...
10:50am Thu 20 Sep 12

just to throw it out there, but come on, its well known that the majority of squaddies who frequent the town cause trouble. they are abusive and extremely disrespectful towards women. they cause fights and then pull the "i'm in the army" card. they think they are above the law. the bouncers are only doing their jobs. i bet they turn away gangs of gypsies, lads etc. you just don't hear about it. a gang of drunken louts turned away from a club, and the fuss because they are in the army. big deal

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GeordieB says...
11:24am Thu 20 Sep 12

Key phrase "Management reserve the right to refuse admission"

If you don't like the staff / policies of this place, don't go there. Starve the place of money and it will disappear.

On the other hand, just because someone choses to do a particular job (None of these people are conscripted), it doesn't mean they have more rights or are better behaved than others.

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frankyboy says...
1:07pm Thu 20 Sep 12

GeordieB wrote:
Key phrase "Management reserve the right to refuse admission" If you don't like the staff / policies of this place, don't go there. Starve the place of money and it will disappear. On the other hand, just because someone choses to do a particular job (None of these people are conscripted), it doesn't mean they have more rights or are better behaved than others.
What if a group of black people were refused entry on the grounds that they were black? I suspect "Management reserve the right to refuse admission" wouldn't save the management.
I also don't think they were claiming more rights than anyone else, just claiming the same.

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oliviaden6 says...
1:24pm Thu 20 Sep 12

If this venue is as bad as everyone says it is, WHY has the Local licencing authority DBC revoked its licence and shut it down. It is all to easy to have a crack at the armed forces people forget what these young men go through in training and when they are posted overseas. They need support and should not be discriminated against in any way shape or form shame on the doormen and management and owners of this HOLE!!!!

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Darlogirl1 says...
3:30pm Thu 20 Sep 12

This club has a certain set of people who drink there and can be quite indie , they turn away a lot of the so called chavs and my son and brother who are over 25 were refused entry because they were older and big lads and worried might cause trouble. They were eventually let in but I do think the club has the right to refuse soldiers or not. Can we all recall that dump of a place escapades that let all and sundry in leading to the death of a young soldier by an underage gypsy shadow boxing on the dance floor!! That says it all!! It has been known that soldiers on R&R come here to cause trouble as a lot of them are in training and have not been let out for a few weeks and some come here and cause riots, as we all know darlo has enough fighters & lunatics drugged up so put them in the mix of some troubles
E soldiers and it's disaster. Most towns turn away groups of lads from
Pubs n clubs who are not local I think this is the norm it's just how it's done that needs to be addressed. No disrespect but why does the reporter need to mention him going off to afghan, it won't make the reader feel any different. I'm all for the army as I'm from that back ground so no fine well what young soldiers can be like , and sometimes its not good!

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toughened says...
5:15pm Thu 20 Sep 12

A couple of weeks ago while out in the club they allowed a largish groiup of military in, later on they caused me and my friend some grief and getting in our faces, thus causing us to leave. While I agree that not everyone is a trouble maker, the club has a responsibility to provide a safe environment for their regular customers. If knocking back a group of people regardless of their occupation helps this, then so be it. Its not nice, but from the managements point of view, they must feel like they are between a rock and a hard place.

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pandorica says...
5:15pm Thu 20 Sep 12

Take the fact away that these guys were in the forces, fact still remain that Inside Out is a hot trouble spot for everyone and something terrible will happen one day there, mark my words. You are not off to a good start really when the door staff who are supposed to be registered are often the instigater of trouble and do not mind starting fights themselves. Yes we all know soldiers have a bad reputation, but lets be honest they are no different to any other groups of lads that visit this **** hole really are they? They let their guard go and have way to many, end up in a state and end up being carted off back to catterick by the MPS, who let me tell you really gives them some grief. So when these same soldiers are deployed overseas to Afghan, just think what they are facing and ask whats the trouble in them having a few social drinks before they face the possibilty of getting shot at or killed.

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Bushead says...
6:23pm Thu 20 Sep 12

When will inside out stop letting gypsys in .
90% problems sorted.

Armed forces deserve far better treatment.

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peelers says...
8:18pm Thu 20 Sep 12

Would they have refused entry to a few Gurkhas? Now these guys are a credit to the British Army, whenever they are in town they are polite and friendly. You get good and bad in all walks of life, let's not tar everybody with the same brush.

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TheSeer says...
9:07pm Thu 20 Sep 12

Absolute disgrace. These are a group of lads who in a few weeks will travel to the most violent and dangerous place on earth. To protect our shores from terrorist. What a complete lack of respect. It will never see another penny of mine.

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steapuk says...
11:18pm Thu 20 Sep 12

I simpathise with these individuals but sadly their association with the garrison does them no favours. Two of my friends still have scars thanks to squadies having a good night out. They raised the pub and glassed drinkers minding their own business. Mud sticks sadly.

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Allanopie says...
2:04am Fri 21 Sep 12

So the doorman , got there SIA badges , and still act like pillocks ! Really !

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Celer et Audax says...
7:54am Fri 21 Sep 12

Typical RMP's making a big deal out of nothing. I am ex-army and have been refused from many a bar or nightclub in my time because I was a squaddie. Did I go crying to the local paper about it??? No, I didn't bat an eye lid and walked on to the next pub, if the next pub didn't let me in I went home, end of.

Seriously how pathetic do this lot sound?? "oohhh mr nasty bouncer didn't let us in nightclub, we are military police you know we deserve respect blah blah blah"

Get over it you bunch of cry baby's and man up. Soldiers are supposed to be physically and mentally robust. This incident should have been water of a ducks back and happens across the country every week, why on earth has it made the paper?? If I was in the same unit as these lot I would be embarassed.

And as for playing the "We are going to Afghanistan soon, we should be shown more respect" card, leave it out you numpty's. I've been Iraq twice and Afghan twice and so have thousands of other squads in the forces. You may find this hard to believe but you are not the first soldiers to go to war and you won't be the last.

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pandorica says...
11:57am Fri 21 Sep 12

Allanopie wrote:
So the doorman , got there SIA badges , and still act like pillocks ! Really !
Unfortunately yes they do, just like many others. Please feel free to inform us if you know different, but i have had to deal with the mess and aftermath a few times after these registered doormen have over used their powers so i know it happens.

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Quakerz says...
3:11pm Fri 21 Sep 12

frankyboy wrote:
GeordieB wrote:
Key phrase "Management reserve the right to refuse admission" If you don't like the staff / policies of this place, don't go there. Starve the place of money and it will disappear. On the other hand, just because someone choses to do a particular job (None of these people are conscripted), it doesn't mean they have more rights or are better behaved than others.
What if a group of black people were refused entry on the grounds that they were black? I suspect "Management reserve the right to refuse admission" wouldn't save the management.
I also don't think they were claiming more rights than anyone else, just claiming the same.
Yeah but black people aren't known for their inability to take their ale and propensity to kick off fights.

Squaddies are known for that.

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the-big-yin says...
9:22pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Celer et Audax wrote:
Typical RMP's making a big deal out of nothing. I am ex-army and have been refused from many a bar or nightclub in my time because I was a squaddie. Did I go crying to the local paper about it??? No, I didn't bat an eye lid and walked on to the next pub, if the next pub didn't let me in I went home, end of.

Seriously how pathetic do this lot sound?? "oohhh mr nasty bouncer didn't let us in nightclub, we are military police you know we deserve respect blah blah blah"

Get over it you bunch of cry baby's and man up. Soldiers are supposed to be physically and mentally robust. This incident should have been water of a ducks back and happens across the country every week, why on earth has it made the paper?? If I was in the same unit as these lot I would be embarassed.

And as for playing the "We are going to Afghanistan soon, we should be shown more respect" card, leave it out you numpty's. I've been Iraq twice and Afghan twice and so have thousands of other squads in the forces. You may find this hard to believe but you are not the first soldiers to go to war and you won't be the last.
SORRY MATE BUT YOUR FULL OF S.H.I.T....
SQUADDIES GO OUT FOR A GOOD DRINK TO WIND DOWN....
NOT TO HAVE THE **** TOOK OUT OF THEM BY STEROID FREAK PUMPED UP SOFT S.H.I.T.DOORMEN WHO THINK THEY RULE THE WORLD....
ANYONE WHO GOES TO THAT DUMP OF A CLUB NEEDS THEIR HEAD EXAMINING..THATS IF THEY CAN FIND THEIR HEADS AFTER ALL THE DRUGS THEY TAKE IN THERE....
IT IS A DUMP SO BOYCOTT THE PLACE AND LET IT CLOSE DOWN IN A MISERABLE DEATHLY WAY.....

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gillod says...
10:41pm Fri 21 Sep 12

It's called Inside Out for a reason, one you get INSIDE you wish you were OUT!

Geordie B makes the most sense.

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ian16th says...
10:13am Sat 22 Sep 12

GeordieB wrote:
Key phrase "Management reserve the right to refuse admission"

If you don't like the staff / policies of this place, don't go there. Starve the place of money and it will disappear.

On the other hand, just because someone choses to do a particular job (None of these people are conscripted), it doesn't mean they have more rights or are better behaved than others.
If you equate serving your country in the military with 'doing a job', you are demonstrating your total and utter ignorance.

Poster Jagga, has already quoted Kipling's 'Tommy', I respectfully suggest that you visit http://www.readbooko
nline.net/readOnLine
/2722/ and read the full text and then re-think your attitude.

Serving in any arm of the military, is not 'a job'.

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Celer et Audax says...
6:05pm Sat 22 Sep 12

the-big-yin wrote:
Celer et Audax wrote:
Typical RMP's making a big deal out of nothing. I am ex-army and have been refused from many a bar or nightclub in my time because I was a squaddie. Did I go crying to the local paper about it??? No, I didn't bat an eye lid and walked on to the next pub, if the next pub didn't let me in I went home, end of.

Seriously how pathetic do this lot sound?? "oohhh mr nasty bouncer didn't let us in nightclub, we are military police you know we deserve respect blah blah blah"

Get over it you bunch of cry baby's and man up. Soldiers are supposed to be physically and mentally robust. This incident should have been water of a ducks back and happens across the country every week, why on earth has it made the paper?? If I was in the same unit as these lot I would be embarassed.

And as for playing the "We are going to Afghanistan soon, we should be shown more respect" card, leave it out you numpty's. I've been Iraq twice and Afghan twice and so have thousands of other squads in the forces. You may find this hard to believe but you are not the first soldiers to go to war and you won't be the last.
SORRY MATE BUT YOUR FULL OF S.H.I.T....
SQUADDIES GO OUT FOR A GOOD DRINK TO WIND DOWN....
NOT TO HAVE THE **** TOOK OUT OF THEM BY STEROID FREAK PUMPED UP SOFT S.H.I.T.DOORMEN WHO THINK THEY RULE THE WORLD....
ANYONE WHO GOES TO THAT DUMP OF A CLUB NEEDS THEIR HEAD EXAMINING..THATS IF THEY CAN FIND THEIR HEADS AFTER ALL THE DRUGS THEY TAKE IN THERE....
IT IS A DUMP SO BOYCOTT THE PLACE AND LET IT CLOSE DOWN IN A MISERABLE DEATHLY WAY.....
turn caps lock off

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Celer et Audax says...
7:11pm Sat 22 Sep 12

"RULE THE WORLD" haha think you have been reading too many fairy tales.

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TheOneWhoKnocks says...
12:30pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Management and the bouncers were well within their rights, and this piece has 'Oh won't somebody please think of the squaddies?!' spin all over it.

If you can be turned away for not wearing the correct footwear it's hardly discrimination to turn away groups of people who are statistically more likely to cause trouble than the rest of the public.

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Jonn says...
8:58pm Tue 25 Sep 12

This has been going on for years and the squaddies know it **** well! Darlingtons doormen can usually spot squaddies a mile off and it's pretty common knowledge that most pubs in the town don't let squaddies in if they can help it. The reason is logical albeit discriminatory, large groups of drunken young men in a club usually ends in trouble and squaddies tend to get wasted in a large group more than most. It's obvious, it makes life easier not to let them in in the first place but the pubs aren't going to admit it are they.

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Bongeyeohoy says...
2:54pm Wed 26 Sep 12

The army lads that go out in darlington are usually young lads still in basic training that think they are machines with money, they grope and harras women all night and start fights with "civies". People dont understand why unless they are on the town when army lads are out so that why people on here are blaming the clubs and door lads. The writer of this story needs something else to write about instead of wasting time about a pathetic story about nightclub entry and false info. As if this was front cover story!

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Darlogirl1 says...
10:43pm Wed 26 Sep 12

Bongeyeohoy wrote:
The army lads that go out in darlington are usually young lads still in basic training that think they are machines with money, they grope and harras women all night and start fights with "civies". People dont understand why unless they are on the town when army lads are out so that why people on here are blaming the clubs and door lads. The writer of this story needs something else to write about instead of wasting time about a pathetic story about nightclub entry and false info. As if this was front cover story!
Totally agree, and surely we have more news worthy things happening!!!

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darlobikegirl says...
10:27pm Sun 13 Jan 13

Before I read this story & saw the headline, knew instantly what club it was. Phoenix security are a disgrace - I stopped frequenting this hovel because they are rotten to the core

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