Lincoln venue apologises for treatment of male gig-goers at Last Dinner Party concert

A venue in Lincoln has issued an apology regarding the way some male guests were treated during a scheduled concert by the Last Dinner Party. The band ended up canceling the event just before it was set to start due to health issues.

On X, a user shared his experience at the Engine Shed, describing it as getting pushed into a dim corner with a group of other men. He claimed he was accused of being suspicious simply for being alone and then taken to a separate room where a security guard interrogated and searched him. He expressed feeling unwell about the situation. Later on, he mentioned that they asked him about his favorite song by a British band.

Another guy shared: “I arrived by myself at 8:45 tonight, and there was no line. They asked me how long I had been a fan and to pick my favorite song. I found it a bit odd, and it was the first time I felt like I needed to answer quiz questions to get into a concert. After reading this, it all makes sense now.”

One in three reported that they were "quickly taken away, searched, and subjected to patronizing inquiries."

In a message shared on X, the Engine Shed acknowledged that they had seen online reports indicating that the entry process that evening did not meet their venue's entry policy standards, which state that all guests should be treated fairly and face the same entry requirements.

According to reports, an initial inquiry revealed that once security was informed about past incidents during the band’s performances, the venue management decided to make an on-the-fly adjustment to their policy.

"Even though the policy was revised with good intentions, it’s evident that this led to unacceptable treatment of some guests. The Engine Shed sincerely apologizes to anyone who was impacted."

It was reported that a separate inquiry is currently taking place, and there will be additional training for employees.

The Last Dinner Party shared a message on Instagram indicating that the venue established and implemented the rules at their own discretion, without consulting us.

"They don't align with our values, and we would never have put them into action if we had known about them beforehand. Our events are meant to be safe and inviting environments for all, which is something we truly value. Witnessing our fans embrace inclusivity is one of the highlights of performing in person."

They expressed that "everyone is invited and urged to come to our events" and added that they were "shocked and saddened that anyone felt differently."

The dramatic band, which has been nominated for a Mercury Prize, also had to call off their performance in Cardiff over the weekend due to health issues.