A London cinema has disputed responsibility for a “No Zionists” cocktail menu allegedly used at its bar. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) had written to The Arzner, a queer friendly cinema and bar, after a customer reported that a cocktail menu at the bar declared “No Zionists” on its cover.

The customer provided a photograph of a printed menu bearing the branding of The Arzner, which stated on its front cover: “No Sexists”, “No Racists”, “No Transphobes”, “No Zionists” and “No Fascists”.  

The location and time meta data indicates that the photograph was taken at or in the close vicinity of The Arzner in Bermondsey, London on 18 July 2026 at 21.01.

The informant told UKLFI that he was a regular customer of The Arzner. He wrote:  “To my surprise and horror, the cocktail menus stated on the front cover “No Zionists”.   you’ll see that Zionists is directly above “Fascists” something that might be thought to be deeply offensive to many Jews.” 

The customer said that he challenged the bartender about the menu, telling him the wording was “extremely offensive to Jewish patrons (or indeed to any non-Jews, such as himself, who believe the Jewish people have a right to a state).”

According to the customer, the barman rejected this objection and described Zionism as a racist project and said that “all of his Jewish friends” reject Zionism.   

UKLFI wrote to the Arzner, explaining that the wording on the menu was discriminatory and likely to breach the Equality Act 2010.

UKLFI’s letter to the Arzner explained that Zionism, in its core sense, is the belief that the Jewish people are entitled to national self-determination in their historic homeland. It does not necessarily entail support for any particular Israeli government, policy, boundary or military action.

UKLFI distinguished legitimate criticism of Israeli policies from the exclusion of people who support the continued existence of a Jewish state.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism identifies “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” — including by claiming that Israel’s existence is a racist endeavour — as a possible example of contemporary antisemitism.

UKLFI said The Arzner was a service provider for the purposes of Part 3 of the Equality Act and was therefore prohibited from discriminating against customers because of protected characteristics.

The letter explained that if there were any policy of refusing admission or service to Zionists, this could amount to direct discrimination because of philosophical belief.

It could also constitute indirect discrimination against Jewish and Israeli customers because Zionism and attachment to Israel are closely connected to the identity of a substantial proportion of both groups.

UKLFI cited research published by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research in 2025 indicating that 64 per cent of British Jews identified as Zionist.

The organisation also warned that presenting Zionists alongside sexists, racists, transphobes and fascists could create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for Jewish customers, potentially amounting to harassment under sections 26 and 29 of the Equality Act.

UKLFI asked the cinema to clarify whether the menus were genuine, who authorised them, when they were introduced and whether they remain in circulation.  It also called for the immediate withdrawal of all menus, signs and other material stating or implying that Zionists are unwelcome.

In response, Simon Burke, the co-owner of Revolting Spaces Ltd, the company that owns the Arzner stated that the Arzner has always been an inclusive venue. “We welcome people regardless of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex or political belief. Jewish customers are not discriminated against in our venue and will never be refused admission or treated less favourably because of who they are or what they believe…..

“…..We have never operated a policy of refusing service to any person because they are Jewish or Israeli. We do not have an approved company policy on the matter of rejecting zionists and nothing you’ve presented demonstrates how customers are, or would be, treated.”

We reject antisemitism unequivocally. We also reject Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, transphobia and every other form of prejudice. As a queer venue, we understand the importance of protecting minority communities from discrimination and creating spaces where people are safe and respected.”

Mr Burke told UKLFI:  “The metadata attached to a photograph does not establish that a document was authorised by our company, formed part of our official menus, reflected company policy, or was approved by management. Nor does it justify attributing discriminatory intent to either the venue or the company.”

However, Mr Burke did not confirm that the company would investigate how a menu bearing The Arzner’s branding and stating “No Zionists” came to be present at the bar.

A UKLFI spokesperson said:

“We hope that the Arzner will investigate how the menu came to be at the bar, particularly if it was not authorised by the management, and will ensure that this is not repeated.”

The Arzner Cinema, which opened in around April 2025 and billed itself as London’s first LGBTQ+ cinema, is named after Dorothy Arzner,  a pioneering queer filmmaker who was the first woman to direct a talkie in 1928.

Updated 25.7.26