'No Single Entry': The Bar Policy Dividing Opinion
A cocktail and karaoke bar in Greater Manchester has ignited a fierce public debate after implementing a strict 'no single entry' policy after 9pm. Alibi, located on Shaw's road near Altrincham Market, displays a prominent red and white sign stating: 'No single entry. After 9pm, Alibi does not permit single entry.'
The policy, which the bar says is for the 'safety of all guests', also requires that if a customer is meeting friends inside, those friends must come to the entrance to collect them. The decision has been met with widespread criticism on social media, where users have described the ban as 'misguided' and 'sad on so many levels'.
Owner's Justification and Backlash
In a clip posted to the bar's Instagram account in November 2025, owner Carl Peters initially explained that the rule was designed to protect his staff. He argued that if a person is alone in a busy, late-night bar environment and an incident occurs, it becomes 'an absolute nightmare for us to deal with.'
However, he further elaborated with contentious claims about the motivations of solo drinkers. 'It also happens to be the case that sometimes if you let people in on their own, their reason why they’re on their own is that they’ve got no-one to talk to, so they start mithering other groups,' Peters stated. He suggested that people would not simply sit in silence and that this is 'when things start to happen', leading other customers to question who the lone individual is.
'So, what we do as a venue, is we just eliminate that,' he concluded. 'Unless you’re with a group and we know who you’re with, then you’re not coming in.' The bar's sign also enforces a specific dress code, prohibiting sportswear, tracksuits, Stone Island clothing, ripped jeans, and attire with 'roadman vibes'.
Accusations of Stigma and Social Isolation
The policy has been condemned by advocates for single people, who argue it reinforces negative stereotypes and exacerbates loneliness. Nicola Slawson, author of 'Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms', told Metro that she was 'really shocked' by the ban.
'It feels like another way to penalise single people and make them out to be something weird or freaky,' she said. As a single mother, Slawson often visits pubs alone and emphasised the diverse reasons people might do so. 'There’s so many reasons to be on your own and to lump everyone in the same box is quite sickening, it’s really hurtful to a lot of single people.'
She also highlighted how the ban could worsen the social isolation epidemic, noting that for some elderly people in her community, a solo trip to the pub is their primary source of social connection. 'I do understand they’re trying to protect people, but you’re just throwing all single people under the bus because there are a few letchy people,' she added.
Sara Scott, a solo travel blogger who is single by choice, agreed, stating that the owner is 'making a huge assumption about why single people take themselves out for a drink, blaming an entire group of people for the actions of a few.' She speculated that problem customers more often arrive in groups and confirmed she would not patronise the bar even with friends.
The controversy raises broader questions about the place of solo individuals in social spaces and the measures businesses take to manage customer behaviour, pitting concerns for safety against the risk of discrimination and social exclusion.
