A bar owner has defended his bouncers for ‘doing the right thing’ and detaining a ‘highly intoxicated’ patron who was kicked out for allegedly breaching Covid restrictions.
Mimi Sinfield shared confronting footage of the incident on Sunday showing two bouncers sitting on and restraining her unnamed male friend.
The video shows the guard repeatedly asking the blonde backpacker to calm down as he smirks and squirms underneath him.
Ms Sinfield and the man in the video were both kicked out of Spring Street Social in Bondi late on Saturday night for allegedly failing to comply with Covid regulations by repeatedly trying to dance.
Andy Bird, who owns the cocktail bar in Sydney’s east, said they were given three warnings each before they were asked to leave.
Andy Bird, who owns the cocktail bar in Sydney’s east, said they had been given three warnings each before they were asked to leave
He stood by his two bouncers, who he said were just doing their job in restraining the man after he allegedly spat in their faces and began acting aggressively.
The man initially refused to leave the venue or part with his beer and tried to take alcohol onto the streets moments before the bouncers intervened, he said.
However, Ms Sinfield, from Britain, said she was outraged that the ‘innocent boy’ in the video was allegedly set upon without good reason.
‘I’m horrified,’ she said.
‘We were screaming at the bouncers to get off this innocent boy who didn’t even put up a fight, the only time he did is when he was saying he couldn’t breathe and they were hurting him.’
Mimi Sinfield (pictured) shared confronting footage on Sunday showing two bouncers sitting on and restraining her unnamed male friend
Footage shows two security guards trying to detain the man on the footpath. Part of the video showed one of the bouncers using his knee and both arms to keep the man down as he squirmed, smirked and demanded he be released
The man smirked and shouted at the security guards even as they were on top of him
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Sinfield for further information.
She said she spent the rest of the night with the unidentified blonde man, who was ‘doing okay’ after the incident.
Footage shows two security guards trying to detain the man on the footpath. Part of the video showed one of the bouncers using his knee and both arms to keep the man down as he squirmed, smirked and demanded he be released.
But Mr Bird said the bouncers never once stepped out of line and simply restrained him until he calmed down to protect themselves and other patrons in the vicinity.
‘If we were to let a patron in that state go, who’s to say he wouldn’t go and hit a member of the public?’ Mr Bird asked.
‘We need to make sure we’re doing our job and letting the police do theirs.’
CCTV footage from the venue has been supplied to police, who are now investigating the matter.
Mr Bird said the bouncers never once stepped out of line and simply restrained him until he calmed down to protect themselves and other patrons in the vicinity
Mr Bird provided screenshots of Facebook messages sent from Ms Sinfield’s account directly to him after midnight, urging him to bend the rules and let her back inside his bar
Mr Bird alleges the man in the footage was also attempting to punch his security guards minutes earlier.
Despite Mr Bird’s version of events, Ms Sinfield shared the footage and urged the public to support her in calling for ‘these absolute c**ts’ to go to jail.
Mr Bird provided screenshots of Facebook messages sent from Ms Sinfield’s account directly to him after midnight, urging him to bend the rules and let her back inside his bar.
‘Andy, please can you come out and let me back in x,’ one message read, quickly followed by another which said: ‘I got in trouble for dancing… I said I wouldn’t do it again.’
The duo were removed from the venue because dancing is not permitted under Covid regulations.
Despite Mr Bird’s version of events, Ms Sinfield shared the footage and urged the public to support her in calling for ‘these absolute c**ts’ to go to jail
Mr Bird says there are clear signs throughout the venue (pictured) which urge people not to dance
Bars and pubs are liable for a $10,000 fine if patrons are caught ignoring Covid rules.
Mr Bird said kicking guests out is the last thing he ever wants to do, so his bouncers are instructed to give every person three warnings because of the confusion surrounding the rules.
‘There’s just so much misinformation and there’s different rules for everyone,’ he said.
‘You’ve got 50,000 at the footy or the cricket, but only 200 in my venue which has capacity for 400… And they’re not allowed to dance.’
Mr Bird said while they dealt with moving goal posts for nine months, he wishes someone with authority to amend the policy would actually visit bars to see how difficult it is to police.
CCTV footage from the venue has been supplied to police, who are now investigating the matter
‘Right now, people can stand up and have a drink. They can move around to go to the bathroom or to walk somewhere else in the room, but when does that become dancing?’ he asked.
‘At what point do we intervene when they’re moving around?’
Spring Street Social and the venue staff – including bouncers – have been playing it safe.
They remove patrons who break the rules and it is losing them money and loyal customers who complain that they’re too tough, but Mr Bird said they really don’t have any other option.
‘We all just have to follow the rules and make sure we’re Covid compliant, but it is difficult. We want to find that perfect balance where we’re keeping customers happy, making money and following the rules,’ he said.
The bouncers in the footage have been publicly shamed and called names since the footage was shared, but Mr Bird says it’s nothing they aren’t used to.
‘They’ve been dealing with this sort of thing for nine months,’ he said. ‘They didn’t do anything wrong, but it’s hard. They’re only human.’
‘I’ve nearly had a break down a few times. We’re trying our best.’
Mr Bird posted this update to the bar’s social media on Friday reminding patrons of the rules
