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Laurent Batard: 'Shocked'.

A FRENCH waiter working at a popular Ross-shire restaurant was left shocked and upset by a customer’s xenophobic remarks – which has opened a fresh debate on the impact of Brexit.

Laurent Batard, a 38-year-old from the south of Paris, was serving at Ullapool’s Ceilidh Place when a couple made “aggressive” comments about his nationality.

The complaint stunned Mr Batard, who made a polite retreat from the table but later reported the incident to brother and sister owners Jock and Rebecca Urquhart.

They sent out a message of support on social media, drawing a sympathetic reaction from many followers of the hotel, café-bar and bookshop venue.

The culprits were described as elderly visitors and first-time customers who have not returned since.

The Ceilidh Place has called out abuse of foreign nationals and prompted plenty of support for its stance.

Mr Batard has good English and has worked in various parts of the UK since 2012. He stressed the vast majority of his customers were pleasant and friendly, but believes Brexit has stoked an increase in abuse of foreign nationals.

Mr Batard said: “I brought their food and they asked where I was from. The woman said I didn’t sound very English, so I told her I was French.

“Her reply was: ‘For God’s sake, can’t we even be served by someone from the United Kingdom these days’.

“I was dumbfounded. I felt a bit threatened. I respect what people think about Brexit, but I don’t think saying something like that out loud is acceptable, whatever your beliefs.

“I just said ‘please enjoy your meal’ and left. It really upset me.”

Mr Batard said friends working in London had reported an increase in instances of verbal abuse.

He said: “They have had comments like ‘you should go back to your own country’. I think Brexit and everything surrounding it is making things worse.

“But I got fantastic support from my employers and read some really kind words on Facebook.”

Mr Urquhart (43) has taken over running the hotel and bookshop from mum Jean, the former MSP and councillor, who established it in 1970.

He employs 36 full and part-time staff currently, rising to between 50 and 60 in peak season. Currently, there are five overseas employees.

Mr Urquhart said: “It was pretty much a stereotypical kind of exchange – quite aggressive, rather than inquisitive or with a friendly disposition. It stuck in the craw a little bit because natural inquisition and conversation with other human beings is at the heart of what the Ceilidh Place is about.

“My sister and I are increasingly befuddled by Brexit and this just puts the tin lid on it.”

Mr Urquhart called out the abuse on the popular venue’s Facebook page with a graphic featuring the flags of Europe to help make his point.

There has been an overwhelmingly supportive reaction from customers. “That is a disgrace. Well done for posting this and highlighting a very disturbing issue, I hope not the trend. Keep it up Ceilidh Place,” said Sandra MacKay.