By Aqila Mumthaz
London, (The Muslim News): On September 17, two women in Niqab, one from the north of London, arrived at the Ritz Hotel “the finest 5 star Luxury hotel in Piccadilly”, London, to celebrate their friend’s birthday.
They had made reservation a the tea room. They had also ordered a birthday cake.
When they reached the Ritz and were going towards the tea room, they were told by hotel management that they would not be allowed into the tea room.
The women were shocked, offended and disappointed to hear that they wouldn’t be able to celebrate the birthday in hotel they had booked in advance.
In a recorded video of the encounter, the hotel management person says they the reservation was cancelled and that they will be refunded the costs.
The Muslim women said they would provide him with their IDs.
The hotel person replied: “I’m really sorry”.
The women were clearly upset demanded to speak to the Manager but were refused.
The Ritz website clearly states that “due to the Ritz’s elegant hotel architecture, guests need to arrive within a dress code allowed by the Ritz. Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket and tie (jeans and sportswear are not permitted for either ladies or gentlemen) for afternoon tea in The Palm Court.” There is no mention of prohibition of face veil.
Ritz hotel were not able to comment when The Muslim News contacted them.
Video conversation:
Woman in Niqab: “ What happens in regards to our reservation?”
Hotel Management: “We will cancel it ma’am without any charges”
Woman in Niqab: “This is absolutely disgraceful. I’ve ordered a cake and everything.
“It’s my birthday.
“I’m not even from London. I’ve come out from north to come here
Hotel Management: “I won’t be able to make any comment you are recording.”
Woman in Niqab: “You can say it if you have got nothing to hide you can say it.
“Is giving an ID or anything like that… it is not going to allow us to let us eat in there..
“That’s absolutely disgraceful
“I’m quite shocked by what we’ve just heard right now and how we’ve just been treated
Hotel Management: “I’m really sorry.”
Woman in Niqab: “You need to get me somebody that can actually do something because I’m not happy to just walk away with you cancelling our reservation when we’ve gone out of our way to travel here, set aside a date, order a cake and absolutely everything. It’s my friend’s birthday…”
[Photo: Rtiz Hotel London. Photographer: Copyright Colin Smith/Creative Commons]
Mohammed AttaSeptember 21, 2018
The Ritz is quite right to enforce its code of dress.
I don’t know what these sisters were thinking – dress code is clear.
Inshallah they found another place to eat cake and drink
David AmiesSeptember 22, 2018
Surely, the hotel staff should have asked the women to uncover their faces. if they had done so, they ought to have been allowed into the tea room.
I will not deal with people behind counters in offices or shops who are masked. I ask to deal with another employee. It is unnerving to speak to people whose faces are covered. Maybe fine in the Middle East, but not in the West.
Dasher GreallyJanuary 5, 2019
Well done to the Ritz hotel- bravo! It will be my first choice when i next visit London. Bravo!”