Who owns Bedouin? Restaurant bans 'intimidating' tattoos, jewelry and designer clothes

The restaurant's chef is unhappy with the desicion and said, 'To hear we are going back to these rules is upsetting'

PUBLISHED FEB 21, 2022

Bedouin is co-owned by millionaire businessman Julian Tobias ( bedouin.com (L)/ Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images(R)

A popular Sydney restaurant released a controversial dress code prohibiting entry of customers with tattoos, heavy jewellery and designer clothes. The venue is frequently visited by celebrities like singer-actress Rita Ora, director Taika Waititi, tennis star Nick Kyrgios and actor Scott Eastwood.

The Bedouin restaurant which is located in Double Bay, Sydney, informed customers that “visible tattoos, heavy jewellery or designer-labelled apparel" is not allowed inside the restaurant as it “intimidates” people. The restaurant's chef Michael Mcelroy is unhappy with the restaurant's new policy as he himself got his neck and arm tattooed.

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Restaurants have been forming bizarre rules and regulations in past years. Last year a similar incident happened in a London restaurant. The iconic restaurant banned single-sex groups of more than six people to stop hen and stag parties at the venue. Another restaurant banned baggy clothing, beanie hats and sunglasses after dark.

Who owns The Bedouin?

Poata Okeroa, Eric Jury and Julian Tobias co licence the restaurant. The Daily Telegraph reported that Poata Okeroa said: “We value our customers and community stakeholders, and have always implemented house rules that include a dress policy that discourages intimidating appearances.

The Middle Eastern restaurant’s chef is fumed over the new policy and told 7news: “I’ve never heard of this policy in Australia, I have head and arm tattoos and not once when dining out has this come up until recently. Hearing they are now introducing these rules is a shame.”

He added, “I love to eat out at restaurants so sooner or later this will start to affect my dining experiences.”

In conversation with Daily Mail, Woollahra councillor Richard Shields said: "The listed restrictions would preclude a big chunk of the eastern suburbs. I am personally not a fan of tattoos but I defend people's rights to express themselves in that way."

He further called out the restaurant terming the new policies as "an April Fool's Day joke".