Visiting hospitality settings
When you go to a pub, cafe or restaurant, what’s on your mind? ‘What shall I have to eat?’ ‘Will they have any spare tables?’ ‘Will they ask me what happened to my face or refuse to serve me?’
Sadly, if you have a facial difference, it might sometimes be the latter. We regularly hear of community members facing unacceptable questions or comments about their facial difference when they go out to eat or drink. Some people have been asked to leave or refused service because of their face, too.
Our 2026 UK survey report ‘Face Facts’
Our report reveals that, in the last year alone* (*12 months to April 2026)
1 in 10 UK adults with a facial difference has been subjected to unwelcome behaviour (such as comments or questions) about their facial difference in these kinds of venues. And 18% of adults with a facial difference in the UK have at some stage avoided going to a restaurant, bar, pub, café, hotel or nightclub because of their facial difference.
Know your rights in hospitality spaces
Our theme for International Face Equality Week 2026 (11-15 May 2026) is Seen and Served – read more about the campaign here. As part of this campaign, we are honoured to launch legal guides about the rights of the facial difference community in hospitality spaces. These guides were prepared by our incredible pro bono partners, Amazon. There are seven jurisdictions listed below, and more to follow.
Let’s put face equality on the menu together and ensure the facial difference community are Seen and Served.
