Man claims cafe staff refused to serve him due to face tumours

Metro

19-05-2025

A man with a rare genetic condition has said he was refused service in a cafe after customers stared at him like he was a 'ghost'.
35-year-old Amit Ghose has Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a condition which causes benign tumours to grow on his nerves.
Last month, Amit had been visiting his sister Shilu Sen in Wood Green, London, when they went out for a coffee.
When he entered a cafe, he says he noticed people were looking at him 'like they'd seen a ghost'.
As Amit ordered a drink, he said he was told by the staff that they were 'no longer serving.'
'I went into this coffee shop and it was full of people, mainly men, and they were all just staring at me, like they'd seen a ghost,' he said.
'I went into this coffee shop and it was full of people, mainly men, and they were all just staring at me, like they'd seen a ghost. The barista told me they weren't serving anymore and then just turned and walked away.
He added: 'It was not a good feeling, obviously – I felt neglected. It's not very inclusive, it's not acceptable to be subjected to that kind of behaviour.'
Amit said he felt disheartened walking out of the shop, but later went to a separate shop, where the staff were 'lovely'.
'It's not all doom and gloom in the world, but it does happen,' he said.
Amit, from Birmingham, was born with the rare genetic condition that affects approximately one in 2,500 to 3,000 people worldwide.
At the age of 11, his left eye was surgically removed, which led him to wear an eye patch for six months while his prosthetic eye was built.
Despite his disability, Amit gives talks in schools about his condition and has written a children's book called 'Born Different'.
He said: 'A kid once said to me: 'You don't need a Halloween mask, you've got one for life.' That comment absolutely broke me, I still think about it every Halloween.'
After learning to 'accept' his facial difference and with the support of his wife, Piyali, 28, Amit started sharing his story online to help others.
He has gained 300,000 followers across his social media platforms over the past two years, and even quit his job as a regional manager at a law firm to pursue a career as a motivational speaker, content creator, and a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Business Partner.
'People with visible differences are human beings. I want to help other people find validation and security in themselves,' he said.
According to the NHS, NF1 is a condition people are born with, but symptoms can develop gradually over many years.
The tumours are usually non-cancerous and benign, but can cause symptoms including neurofibromas, birthmarks, freckles in unusual places, or problems with bones, eyes and the nervous system.
NF1 is caused by a faulty gene, and there's a 1 in 2 chance a child will develop NF1 if either the mother or father has it.
There's currently no cure for the condition, but treatment can involve surgery, medicine to control secondary conditions, physiotherapy and pain management.
Around 1 in 3,000 people have the condition, but Charmaine's case is extreme.
If you or someone you know is affected by Neurofibromatosis visit www.nervetumours.org.uk for support and further information
In 2022, another London cafe defended its decision to effectively bar a blind man with learning disabilities as his guide dog was 'too large and fluffy'. More Trending
Staff at the Star Cafe in Sidcup, south-east London, repeatedly turned away Stephen Vallance, 44, his mum Ann and his Alsatian-Labrador cross, Wills, who is neither particularly large nor fluffy.
He was told to either sit outside in the cold or leave, despite laws banning businesses from discriminating against guide dog owners.
The charity Guide Dogs UK slammed the cafe's 'illegal' actions as 'unacceptable' and 'extremely disappointing'.
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