Just after his release from prison, Tommy Robinson was asked to leave a London restaurant after the business said guests and staff felt uncomfortable.
The 42-year-old said he and four others were told to leave the Hawksmoor steakhouse, near Piccadilly Circus in London on Thursday.
He has accused the restaurant of “discriminatory behaviour” due to his political beliefs.
Hawksmoor said in a statement that the group left the restaurant “politely”, adding that its decision was “not about politics or belief” and it was “not trying to engage in a public debate”.
Video footage, posted on X by a member of Yaxley-Lennon’s group, shows a member of staff telling them that his colleagues felt “uncomfortable serving” them.
The staff member is then heard saying that he had a “duty of care”, adding that he would waive the bill for their drinks and apologising for the inconvenience.
Tripadvisor has temporarily suspended reviews on some Hawksmoor restaurants due to an influx of reviews “that do not describe a first-hand experience”.
The steakhouse chain has seven restaurants in London, with branches in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester and abroad.
In a statement Hawksmoor said: “On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained.
“The party left peacefully and politely on request.”
It added it wanted to welcome guests “regardless of background or views” and its team had to deal with a “huge amount of fallout… some of which is quite concerning”.
