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A Trafford Centre restaurant has responded after it has been slammed by a woman who was refused entry.

A video has emerged online where a 22-year-old woman was not allowed into Gourmet Burger Kitchen as she could not prove she is over 18. The restaurant, which can be found on the upper level of the Orient, has now issued a response to the allegations.

The burger spot has been a main-stay in the shopping centre, first opening over a decade ago. The chain first established itself in 2001, serving up the “original gourmet burger”.

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In a video posted to TikTok, Lia Clark, she said she was denied entry into the burger restaurant as she did not have her ID to prove she was over 18.

She said: “We’re trying to come in here to eat a burger, no alcohol. Nothing. A chicken burger.”

She then said she was asked if she had ID and was told you have to be over 19 to eat at the restaurant. Lia then proceeded to tell the employee and told them she was 22 years old, then presented a photograph of her passport. The member of staff then told Lia that she needed a physical ID with her.

When Lia saw a baby was also in the restaurant she questioned why the child was allowed into the restaurant, but was told it was because the baby had an adult with them who was over 18.

She said: “I am shell-shocked, I have never heard nothing like that in my whole life. So if you want to come here for food, make sure you’ve got ID with you for a burger.”

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In a statement issued to the Manchester Evening News, the restaurant doubled down on their policy. They explained that this is a result of their licensing conditions.

A spokesperson for GBK said: “Like pubs, clubs and other venues that serve alcohol, the conditions of our current licence state that guests must be aged 18 or over unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

“At times we need to check ID to verify a guest's age to ensure we are complying with the law. We operate a Check 25 policy to ensure we are compliant with our licence. As with pubs and other licensed premises, this means the original physical ID document rather than a photo on a mobile phone, which we are unable to accept.

“We appreciate this can sometimes be disappointing for guests, and we understand the frustration this has caused. However, our team were simply following the requirements of our licence and applying them consistently. While we never want to turn anyone away, we are pleased the guest was able to find an alternative place to eat within the centre.”