A French cafe owner who caused outrage after banning squaddies 'because they're English' has said the whole issue is a "misunderstanding."
Creperie la Falaise in Vierville-sur-Mer in Normandy near Omaha Beach caused outrage after battlefield guide Eugenie Brooks said troops she took to the eatery were refused service.
Brooks wrote on social media: "This cafe at Vierville Draw at Omaha Beach Normandy refused to serve my British Army soldiers today as 'they are English'...An utter disgrace & I will NEVER EVER EVER take any of my tours there again."
Now, Creperie la Falaise owner Florent Neveur told the Daily Mail that there was a misunderstanding as the cafe was too busy to serve the group, and that the tour guide's claims that they were banned for their nationality "did not make sense."
Creperie la Falaise in Vierville-sur-Mer in Normandy has come under fire
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The 31-year-old said: "I have friends all over the world, I never speak about nationality. Why would I say that on Omaha Beach? I welcome everyone from all over the world.
"Two buses came on Monday about 12.30pm - when it was a very busy time for us. I said 'Guys, I'm so sorry. I have to be focused on my restaurant, I can't help you, I can't leave my other customers.'
"But I made some ice cream for some of them, I made a coffee for the driver - but they don't mention that."
He added that day he was already full with customers when the tour guide's party arrived.
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Omaha Beach was part of the D-Day landings
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The cafe has come under fire from reviewers, TripAdvisor gave it a two-star rating and many of the comments were deeply negative, with several describing the experience as "horrible."
Responding to these reviews, Florent said: "This is a busy place, sometimes I have to say you can't eat here because we are full.
"It gets crazy here. Sometimes we cannot serve everybody. I take care of my customers. I'm angry about this abuse. If people have a problem with me, come and we can speak.
"I love my job, I love the people who come in here. I work all the year round for them."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau will attend this year’s official anniversary ceremony on June 6 on Omaha Beach.
King Charles has "made it a personal mission" to travel to Normandy for the commemorations despite suffering from cancer, along with the Prince of Wales.