Hix at Selfridges distances itself from EDL spat

Hix restaurant, Champagne and caviar bar at Selfridges, London has moved to distance itself from a controversy at the department store that saw the leader of the English Defence League and a friend receive a free meal there.

The situation arose after a shop assistant at Selfridges refused to serve the friend of EDL leader Tommy Robinson.

Robinson - a convicted criminal who leads anti-Islam protests - was with the friend as he tried to buy jeans at the Oxford Street store on Monday.

A sales assistant asked the shopper if he was a member of the EDL and then said: "F*** off, I am not serving you," according to Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Part of the exchange was filmed by Robinson, who put it online.

A manager at the Selfridges is understood to have apologised to Robinson and offered him and his friend a meal at its Hix restaurant, Champagne and caviar bar.

The assistant was subsequently suspended but has now been reinstated following an investigation.

Both Selfridges and Hix at Selfridges faced a backlash from members of the public on Twitter as news of the incident came to light in the Guardian newspaper.

The restaurant (@HIXSelfridges) tweeted: "If you have read the @guardian article regarding #EDL it is evident the meal was comped by Selfridges not HIX."

In a statement on Twitter today, Selfridges said: "Since 1909 we have welcomed everyone to our store and have endeavoured to provide a world-class service.

"We have completed our investigation with our long-term sales associate, and he will be back in the store shortly."