Cramlington teenager Holly Munoz said she was left "embarrassed and upset" when doorstaff at the Cramlington McDonald's stopped her and a friend from getting a post-cinema meal because they didn't have ID.
Holly and her friend had just been to the local Vue cinema before walking over the road - just after 4pm on Wednesday July 5 - to get their tea at McDonald's. Both women are 18.
When they got to the door, Holly says "aggressive" door staff refused them entry and told them ID was necessary to go inside. The restaurant has a "temporary" policy restricting access to under-18s without a parent or guardian in place due to reported anti-social behaviour.
Upset, Holly and her friend headed for home - and she returned with dad Julian around half an hour later. At that point, Julian said staff there ignored his complaints and the same member of doorstaff was "aggressive" to him too - and denied having even spoken to his daughter.
When contacted by ChronicleLive, McDonald's said it had introduced "various measures" in response to anti-social behaviour, but that customers being asked for ID would not happen again.
Holly said: "It's embarrassing when you are just going to get food and they don't let you in. We had just been to the cinema. We're quite independent, we do everything ourselves. And I just think when McDonald's says it's for everyone, this is bad for the brand.
"it was upsetting. To turn away people just because they are young."
Julian added: "I do understand that we have a huge problem with anti-social behaviour - as does much of the North East. But for some reason the security they have on the door is like if you were going out in Newcastle.
"My daughter went to the cinema and then following that she walked over he road to get some tea. She was confronted at the front door and asked for ID. Surely that's got nothing to do with security. I'd understand more if it was a big group of kids but it wasn't.
"They both work in the shopping centre, they're both students. They're going to university next year - but they can't go to McDonald's? It's astonishing."
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: "The safety and security of our people and our customers is our utmost priority, and our Cramlington restaurant has introduced various measures to help mitigate the challenges of anti-social behaviour affecting the wider area.
"These include employing security guards and making the decision to temporarily restrict restaurant access to under-18s who are unaccompanied after 4pm. We continue to work closely with Northumbria Police to understand how we can be part of the solution."
