Perth nightclub tells revellers to leave their red sneakers at the door

The owner of a Perth nightclub has taken a highly unusual step by banning a specific clothing item.

A popular nightclub will introduce a ban on a specific footwear item in an effort to tackle poor behaviour on its premises.

Bar1 Nightclub in the northern Perth suburb of Hillarys has announced it will implement a ban on red sneakers from February to target a “certain style of person” attending its venue.

The nightclub revealed the move in a Facebook post on Monday, confirming “yes, we are serious” in the caption.

The post sparked a mixture of outrage and amusement.

“But what are the eshays going to wear now?” a Facebook user commented.

“All three of the people I know that go there are going to be real mad about this,” another quipped.

Bar1 Nightclub has singled out one type of footwear as the cause of its problems. Picture: Facebook / Bar1 Night Club

Bar1 Nightclub owner Malcolm Pages said the new rule, which would come into effect on February 1, was not discriminatory and would not be a blanket ban on red footwear.

“If you’re at a cocktail party or a 21st and you rock up as a well-dressed lady in red shoes you won’t be told to change your shoes,” he told 6PR Radio.

“It’s more of a certain element of person who has red Nikes, ASICs or New Balance to match with a big thick chain and a certain shirt.

“It’s a little bit eshay or the local suburban hero. Every pub, nightclub, bar, security person, police officer would tell you that the local hero wears a certain style of clothing.”

A Perth nightclub has sensationally banned one item of clothing from its premises, as its owners say the highly specifiic wear is a sign of trouble. Picture: Facebook / Bar1 Night Club

Mr Pages said he thought the look had “gained momentum” in Perth and across the nation over the last 18 months.

“Unfortunately quite often when (patrons) are asked to leave, a large percentage of the time they have red shoes on,” he said.

Another Facebook commenter claimed he had noticed a link between red-coloured footwear and crime in Perth’s suburbs.

Bar1 is a popular haunt for young people in Perth’s northern suburbs. Picture: Facebook / Bar1 Night Club

“For those who don’t know why or are in question … I suggest you walk through Rockingham and Kwinana for a day and tell me what shoes the people picking up bumpers and breaking into cars are wearing,” he wrote.

Not everyone was on board with the announcement, however, with one commenter slamming the new rule as “complete discrimination and profiling”.

“Yep. Only people wearing red shoes cause problems. Ridiculous,” one said.

Licensed venues are allowed to set dress standards which are “suitable for their particular premises” under Western Australia’s liquor control act.

Originally published as Perth nightclub tells revellers to leave their red sneakers at the door