The Marlborough Hotel in Sydney has apologised "unreservedly" after its bouncers rejected a woman with cerebral palsy who was out celebrating her 21st birthday.
The woman was turned away early on Sunday morning after security staff interpreted her condition as drunkenness and refused to believe otherwise.
The pub says it began investigating the incident after a family friend Liane Gorham complained on the venue's Facebook page.
"My friend's beautiful and inspiring daughter was refused entry on the night of her 21st birthday," Ms Gorham wrote.
"She suffers from cerebral palsy. Disgraceful and discriminating behaviour by your door staff. She was belittled and laughed at."
The comment prompted the pub to respond, saying accusations that security staff laughed at her during the ordeal were "upsetting". 
The pub followed up with an apology and an admittance that it had "screwed up".
The comment from Liane Gorham on the pub's page (Facebook) Source: Facebook
"Early Sunday morning we refused entry to a young lady as we believed she was intoxicated. Reality was she had cerebral palsy. And it was her 21st birthday. And we ruined her night," the message said.
"We apologise to the young lady, her friends and family. Unreservedly. We apologise for the humiliation and distress that we have caused."
The pub's post on Facebook Source: Facebook
"It's a pretty high level of ignorance," Sarah Henryson posted on Thursday.
Solotel bought the pub in 2017, adding it to a portfolio of 30 hospitality businesses in Sydney and Brisbane.
The hotel said it has taken complaints about guards "on board" and changed security companies in the last few months.
It says its "entire team" will undertake intensive anti-discrimination training.
