A CAFE is making waves after it began charging blokes more money in a bid to close the gender pay gap.

The feminist vegan owner of Handsome Her eatery in Melbourne, Australia, is making them pay an 18 per cent “man tax” as well as giving women priority over seating.

4 The owner of Handsome Her in Melbourne wants to address the gender pay gap Credit: Instagram/handsomeher

Owner Alex O’Brien told Broadsheet website: “I do want people to think about it, because we’ve had this (pay discrepancy) for decades and decades and we’re bringing it to the forefront of people’s minds.

“I like that it is making men stop and question their privilege a little bit.”

Ms O’Brien says the response from her customers has been positive, with one man even donating $50 (£30) to the cause.

She said: “There’s been nothing but positivity from everyone, males and females.”

4 Alex O'Brien, left, dreamed up the idea to make men take the issue of unequal pay more seriously Credit: Instagram/handsomeher

4 The house rules are laid out clearly on a board Credit: Twitter / @paigecardona

4 All the money made by the man tax is going to a women's welfare charity

But the reaction on social media has been mixed, with some praising while others are outraged.

One Twitter user said: "This makes me sick. What the hell is wrong with these stupid women. Rules for men to enter?"

While Jack Saba tweeted: "Your "cafe" is sexist."

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The extra money will be donated to the Elizabeth Morgan House which supports Aboriginal women and children.

It comes as a row broke out over the gender pay gap after the salaries of top BBC earners were revealed.

The broadcaster published a full list of the 96 people who earn more than £150,000 exposing a huge disparity in wages, with just one woman – Claudia Winkleman – featuring in its top ten best-paid stars.

Prime Minister Theresa May was among those to blast the figures and call for the Beeb to pay men and women the same.

She said: “What has happened today is we have seen the way the BBC is paying women less for doing the same job as the men."

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