The Mother Superior — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

I walked into the establishment last night with a multi-ethnic group of friends, and within earshot of the bar staff I asked one of my friends what soft drink he wanted (as he was driving), in our native language. I was immediately told he was "too drunk to be served" by the bar staff and was cut off, point blank. To add insult to injury, the rest of my group of friends were then denied service despite being entirely composed (a common trait is that we all had various accents, I might add), with the excuse being it was "the manager's decision".

My partner had already purchased a drink plus two soft drinks; having been cut off once the connection with the rest of us was made, asked for a refund to which the bar staff agreed, but had the gall to ask her to clear the table for that particular member of staff, who was the person "speaking on behalf of the manager". It turns out, he WAS the manager!

So not only had we been clearly discriminated against and treated like leprous pariahs, we'd been lied to by the manager to cover their own tail/not have the decency to admit it was they who had made the knee-jerk decision.

I have never felt so discriminated against in my life, in a place that was once known for its inclusivity amid the other welcoming establishments of Leith. Frankly I'm disgusted at the clear xenophobic and classist treatment by staff who looked at us with pure disdained sneers, and will never come back.

A warning to all who don't have an upper-class accent and not bedecked in the Wicker Man-clothing mentality of this place, stay far away and spend your money elsewhere, lest you wish to be treated like scum for not fitting the staff's ideal...

We just popped in straight after work trying to escape from the city center chaos and decided to go to one of our favourite places. We have been loyal customers for the Black Cat for 7 years and regular customers for the Mother Superior when in Leith since the opening. We always have had a great time, as overseas people having found a second home in Edinburgh in the last 10 years, we felt at home and welcomed. However yesterday, after a few paints each, one of the guys at the bar STATED that the person with us had enough drinks. Seriously? Being sat having a normal and quiet conversation between friends means being drunk? Having 3 paints mean being drunk?

Maybe, as the comment I saw below (So agree with them) we weren't cool enough for being there at one point in the evening ? Maybe our English is not excellent? Maybe we didn't spend enough money? Maybe we are classified as "locals" or as "foreigners"?

Just a suggestion for the staff working yesterday: we worked in hospitality around Europe for over 20 years, we know very well the rules, laws and when it's time to say stop serving people as they are drunk, annoying and of course a danger. Well, yesterday it wasn't the case. Whichever is the reason, we felt absolutely unwelcomed and insulted.

It has definitely been our last visit there, happy to spend our money anywhere else, but most of all, happy to feel welcomed and treated simply as customers, and not classified on the basis of nothing. A note for Jane, the owner: You and the previous Team are...

Very discriminatory pu. Sad as local but you only need to take a look around to see there are no locals here... Walked in everyone was staring at me apparently they have never seen anyone in equestrian garb before. Ignored mainly by the bar staff two female bar staff I waited patiently while talking with friends to be served then one girl came over reluctantly and asked what I wanted. Because she wasn't listening to me I had to repeat my order all the whole receiving dirty looks from the bar staff and patrons because of what I'm wearing. Or so I thought I'm a fairly bubbly person and this offended the staff for some reason when I was talking to friends. While talking to my friend I was told I couldn't be served because the girl thought I'd had a drink elsewhere which was not true. I asked for the reason they wouldn't serve me and it was some weird terms that they said meant they could refuse me based on my looks and demeanor. I would say if you don't look trendy enough or have the personality of a snail do not visit this place unless you want to be discriminated against. Would say it was racism as that what it felt like but disguised as another excuse not to get served. The bar staff girl also would not put her refusal to serve reason in writing probably because they know full well the spiel was a load of nonsense. Horrible place horrible people...