A London blues bar has refused entry to a group of black students, after allegedly saying that they “didn’t look like” they’d enjoy the music.

According to claims made on Twitter, the doorman at Camden’s Blues Kitchen denied entry to the group of friends, telling them that the venue didn’t really look like their “kind of thing”. When probed further about what that meant, he reportedly added, “I thought because you were black, you would like rap music.”

“I asked why I was stopped and the security guard told me ‘this is not your type of night’,” Chiko, who refused to give his last name, told Buzzfeed. “I was shocked, because other people – who were not of colour – were walking straight into the restaurant no questions asked.”

The students then went on to call for the manager, who apparently told them that they’d been stopped because of their age. However, the group – who were all in their 20s and carrying ID – were still not permitted entry. “(The manager) didn’t take us seriously at all,” said Abie, who was also turned away. “He was rude and called us ‘aggressive’ when we complained. He said ‘it’s not that big of a deal’ and denied his doorman would say such things.”

“We are all 20 years of age,” she added. “And the doorman did not mention IDs once. His problem was our colour”.

Sadly, this is not the first time allegations like this have come to light this year. In October, protests were held outside West End nightclub DSKTRKT, after it reportedly turned away a group of girls for being “too dark” and “too fat.” Birmingham club BAMBU were also accused of turning away a group for similar reasons. “A security guard explained they do not allow groups of black people,” wrote Jess Gregory, who was turned away from the venue. “He explained the club simply won’t let us in because of the colour of our skin and there being 11 of us would mean too 'many' black people.”

The Blues Kitchen – a bar that, most embarrassingly, makes a serious profit from its associations with black culture – has since fired the doorman, and has issued a “desperate” apology for the alleged incident.

“Following a customer complaint received this morning The Blues Kitchen carried out an internal investigation which resulted in the dismissal of a doorman for making a racist comment to a customer,” said a spokesperson for the venue. “The Blues Kitchen is home to all colours, cultures and sexes. This isolated incident saddens us immensely.”

“We are desperately sorry and will ensure, through improved hiring and training procedures, that something such as this will never happen again.”