'We’re not serving anymore': Indian-origin man with rare genetic condition claims London cafe denied entry

The incident is the latest in a series of prejudicial encounters Amit Ghose has experienced throughout his life.

A 35-year-old man of Indian origin has alleged that he was denied service at a cafe in London due to his appearance, an experience he described as deeply distressing and dehumanising.

Amit Ghose, who lives in Birmingham, was born with Neurofibromatosis type 1 — a rare genetic condition that causes non-cancerous tumours to grow along nerves and leads to visible facial disfigurement. Speaking to the BBC, Ghose recounted the incident in which he was refused service while customers around him continued to be attended to.

“The person serving looked at me and said: ‘Oh, we’re not serving any more’. She turned around and walked off. But clearly, clearly they were still serving,” said Ghose. He added that the reaction from the rest of the cafe made him feel like a “ghost”, as everyone turned to stare.

The incident is the latest in a series of prejudicial encounters Ghose has experienced throughout his life. After undergoing surgery at the age of 11 to remove his left eye, he was left with facial disfigurement and subjected to relentless bullying during his school years. One particularly painful episode occurred just before Halloween, when a classmate made a comment that left a lasting psychological scar. The remark caused Ghose to struggle for years with self-acceptance, often feeling compelled to hide his face and avoid showing it in public.

A turning point came through playing cricket at school, which enabled him to form connections and friendships, ultimately helping him redefine his identity beyond his appearance. “Through the sport, I was able to focus on my skills and passion for the game rather than my looks,” he recalled.

Despite gaining some confidence during his school years, the discrimination did not stop in adulthood. Ghose has frequently endured public reactions ranging from stares and whispers to outright ridicule. “The pointing, the tapping the friend next to them saying ‘have you seen that guy’s face’, that is also constant,” he said.

One such encounter in a park deeply impacted him and led to the creation of his self-published children’s book, Born Different. “I had a couple of individuals come over to me in a park and ask me what happened to my face, and I thought they were just being curious. But actually they started laughing, giggling, saying: ‘Oh my God, if I had a face like you I wouldn’t even come out of my house’,” he recounted.

Rather than retreat from public life, Ghose chose to use his experiences to educate and empower others. He began visiting schools, sharing his story with children and encouraging them to embrace their individuality and the differences of others. With the support of his wife, Piyali, he gradually found the confidence to speak publicly about his condition and experiences.

In early 2023, he launched a TikTok account, which quickly gained traction. As of now, he has amassed nearly 200,000 followers and millions of likes. Through short videos and personal reflections, he began breaking down stigma and building community, helping others come to terms with their own challenges.

“Disability or no disability, visible difference or no visible difference, we all have insecurities, we all have things that we’re faced with, and challenges we’re faced with,” he said. “I just want to give this narrative to people that if we truly celebrate who we are, accept who we are, fall in love with who we are, then we can be more confident.”

Ghose has since left his job at a law firm to become a full-time motivational speaker, dedicating his life to supporting young people and promoting a message of acceptance and empowerment.