Oliver Bromley, a 42-year-old man with a genetic condition that causes facial disfigurement, was left heartbroken after being asked to leave a restaurant because he was allegedly “scaring customers.” Bromley, who suffers from Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a disorder that causes benign tumors to grow along his nerves, had stopped for lunch at a local eatery in Camberwell, southeast London while undergoing treatment at King’s College Hospital. reported by NDTV.
Bromley, a mental health crisis helpline worker currently on leave, recalled that he was excited to get a break from hospital food. After checking the menu from outside, he entered the restaurant to place his order. However, his attempt to enjoy a meal was cut short when staff informed him that customers had complained about his presence. “The gentleman behind the counter told me that I was scaring people and asked me to leave,” Bromley recounted. Shocked and hurt, he left the restaurant and sat in a nearby park to process what had just happened.
“It was an incredibly upsetting experience,” Bromley explained. “I hadn’t even sat down. I just went to place my order, and they asked me to leave. It was very clear that I wasn’t wanted there.” He emphasized that, although he is accustomed to receiving stares due to his appearance, this was the first time he had been directly told he was unwelcome because of how he looks. Bromley, originally from South Africa and now living in Reigate, Surrey, wrote a letter to the restaurant following the incident but received no response.
Feeling that his experience was an act of discrimination, Bromley reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police, who recorded it as a hate crime. The police confirmed to the BBC that while no arrests had been made, they take reports of hate crimes very seriously. Bromley’s case has also been reported to Trading Standards.
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 is a genetic condition that affects around 26,500 people in the UK, but awareness of the condition remains low. Charity Nerve Tumours UK, which supports people living with the disorder, has expressed its deep disappointment at the incident. The charity’s director, Karen Cockburn, explained that Bromley’s experience was sadly “not uncommon” but reiterated their commitment to raising awareness and educating the public. Nerve Tumours UK has reached out to UKHospitality, the trade association for the UK’s hospitality industry, to advocate for better training and understanding of rare conditions like Neurofibromatosis.
Cockburn believes Bromley’s experience could potentially fall under the 2010 Equality Act, which classifies “severe disfigurement” as a protected characteristic, prohibiting discrimination based on such conditions. She explained that Nerve Tumours UK has contacted both the restaurant and UKHospitality, and while the restaurant has not responded, UKHospitality has expressed willingness to work with the charity to improve awareness and sensitivity in the industry. told by BBC.
Despite his distress, Bromley is hopeful that his ordeal will spark positive change. He insists that he is not seeking punishment or retribution against the restaurant, but rather an opportunity to raise awareness. “All the restaurant needed to do was ask,” Bromley said, acknowledging that there is widespread ignorance about his condition. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s just something some individuals live with. I hope this experience helps educate people, especially those in the hospitality industry, so it doesn’t happen again.”
Bromley hopes that sharing his story will lead to greater understanding and acceptance of those who live with visible differences, ultimately preventing others from facing the same hurtful treatment he endured. “I’m on a mission to spread awareness. There will always be negative people in the world, but my hope is that this incident will have a positive impact moving forward.”
