Dalston Couple Call for Apology after "racist" Receipt

A Dalston couple have called for an apology after a leading pub chain printed a "racist" receipt.

The Slug and Lettuce, in Islington Green have been criticised after the words "black couple" were written on the dinner receipt of a university student and his estate agent girlfriend.

Johnson Abraham, 24, and Roxanne Duhur, 21, were shocked when they went to pay for their meal - and found the words "upstairs blk couple" typed in next to their table number.

Mr Abraham, who is studying mechanical engineering at Kingston University, is calling for a personal apology from the person who served them.

The incident happened when the couple, of Dalston Lane, went for a steak and burger dinner earlier this month.

Mr Abraham told the Islington Gazette: "My partner had got a new job so she wanted to take me out. When they gave her the receipt, she told me to look at it. On the right-hand corner, it said 'upstairs blk couple' - all in capitals.

"I was outraged. They wouldn't have written 'white couple'- and they could have found a different way to describe us.

"I do class it as racism. I felt like we were being classed by our colour and nothing else. It was disrespectful."

In an e-mail to Mr Abraham, area manager Nick O'Donnell said the restaurant often used descriptions to make sure orders are not mixed up - but acknowledged that the words used were "insensitive".

He said: "We often put a note on orders to help reduce the chances of an order being sent to the wrong table. I agree in this case the language used was inappropriate. I apologise for the upset that this has caused."

Mr O'Donnell invited the couple back to the Slug and Lettuce Islington to prove the restaurant's "great intentions", but Mr Abraham will not be returning, as he has called for an apology from the waitress.

A Slug and Lettuce spokeswoman said: "We have a non-discriminatory policy and the description was a secondary means of identifi-cation to ensure speed of service. In no way was it intended to upset. A full apology has been made and they have been invited to join us for complimentary food and drinks.