Rubery couple 'too smart' for superclub

Apr 29 2010 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail

A COUPLE’S first trip to a Birmingham nightspot ended in disappointment when one of them was turned away for being TOO smart.

Magdalena Betteridge and husband Richard, both aged 54, queued up for a night of partying at Broad Street’s multi-million pound Gatecrasher superclub.

But they were stunned when engineer Richard – decked out in trousers, a shirt and shoes – was barred from entering the dance music venue after bouncers deemed him too smart.

Angry Magdalena, a nurse originally from Cape Town, South Africa, said: “I couldn’t believe it, our evening was ruined. I have never heard of anybody not being let in to a club because they are too smart.

“I would say we were dressed smart-casual. There were girls going in to the club who were dressed like prostitutes.

“We stood at the back for a bit and watched as they seemed to be letting everybody else in.” The Rubery couple had gone to the club with Magdalena’s son, Brendan, and his wife Sarika, both aged 28, who were visiting from Bradford.

Magdalena moved to the UK in December 2008 and said she had wanted to visit the 3,000 capacity club after hearing about its reputation as one of the city’s best nightspots.

It opened two years ago after moving in to the former Works club after a £5 million revamp. “It was really upsetting,” said Magdalena. “I have been wanting to go there for a long time.

“It was my first night on Broad Street and it was a complete let-down.”

A club spokesman admitted its dress code was hard to define and apologised to the couple if they had been distressed.

“It’s about attitude and style,” said the spokesman. Gatecrasher is specific about that on the website.

“Someone wearing a shirt, trousers and shoes isn’t guaranteed to get in. We apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused.”