Pizzeria hit after couple rebuffed

A Dunedin pizza restaurant is being bombarded with “fake reviews” and negative comments after turning away an Auckland couple over Covid fears.

A couple on a South Island road trip say they weren’t allowed inside Biggie’s Pizza for a drink once they revealed they came from Auckland, despite having left the northern region more than two weeks ago.

The disgruntled would-be diner and her partner were shocked and angry about the blanket refusal, saying they had no links to any Covid cases and did not pose a health risk.

But the Stuart St eatery, which is battling for survival, is making no apologies for its hardline stance banning the patrons.

Restaurant owner Tacey Millard said there was no blanket ban on people from Auckland.

Staff would ask patrons questions about things like their recent travel history and symptoms. Depending on their answers, and their attitude, a decision would be made about whether to let them into the premises, she said.

The couple in question were unhappy about being queried and the restaurant manager decided not to let them dine there.

Since news of issue broke, the restaurant had been receiving fake reviews and negative comments online, Millard said.

As long as businesses did not discriminate against people for reasons such as race or age, they could choose who they allowed on their premises, she said.

The 27-year-old woman, who had been in the South Island since the start of the month, said she was stunned when staff quizzed her about recent travel.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said they couldn’t believe they were being subject to this level of discrimination.

But Millard yesterday said the ban was about protecting people — and her business — in the pandemic.