Contacted by maltastar.com, a spokesperson for the popular nightclub, known for being a hub for mature revellers: “This is private property and we have the right to let in anyone we want.”

Pressed if there was basis of discrimination on age or looks – as the woman is charging – he replied: “No it was simply a decision taken there and then; we have the right to choose our clients.”

The Fuego spokesperson would not elaborate on the reason for not letting the woman inside the bar and said that the club does not need to give reasons for not allowing clients on its premises.

No reason given

This e-newspaper took its cue from a letter to the editor published on l-orizzont on Monday and contacted the person who wrote the letter for the woman.

Carren Azzopardi was accompanying the woman, who is the mother of her boyfriend. She explained to maltastar.com that she was with her boyfriend and his mother in Paceville on Thursday night after the Bryan Adams concert in Malta. When they tried to enter Fuego later on during the night the bouncer just stopped the 40+ woman, for no apparent reason.

“They ruined our night,” Carren said. “My boyfriend and I were already inside walking towards the bar when we realised she was not following us. When we went back to look for her she was sitting on the pavement outside Fuego’s main entrance. She told us she was not allowed in and when we asked the bouncer why he just said there was no reason except that the club is private property and he has a right to do it.”

Carren explained that they demanded to speak to the duty manager. The manager simply told them he would not be going against a decision taken by his bouncer. She also said that it could not have been the case of age restrictions as other men and women were inside the club seemed to be in the same age gap as the mother of her boyfriend.

Breach of law?

“I am still puzzled. So why was she not allowed in? It is true that the place is private, but after all they cannot discriminate against a person or another on the basis that the bouncer likes a person but not the other. Could it be that she was not allowed in just because she was not wearing an ultra-short mini-skirt and her top was not revealing enough?, said Carren.

A legal source told maltastar.com that the club, being private property can choose who enters inside or not. But the client can claim breach of the rules of natural justice and take the nightclub to court.