Brussels bar El Café to rebrand after series of sex-abuse scandals

The El Café bar in Brussels is rebranding, having made headlines throughout last year after one of its staff was accused of serial sexual assault and one of its bouncers was convicted of rape.

The bar, located in the university neighbourhood near the Ixelles cemetery, was strongly criticised for its response to the numerous allegations of sex abuse.

One of its employees was accused of regularly drugging the drinks of women patrons, then assaulting or raping them. A bouncer was sentenced to 50 months in prison for raping a customer.

Given its past, the infamous El Café has decided a rebranding is in order. The restaurant will reopen as Mylène in March, Bruzz reports.

El Café was closed after being taken over by Brussels hospitality player LO Group.

“Our goal is to start again from scratch and propose a new concept,” Thomas Trothen, one of LO Group's three shareholders, told La Dernière Heure.

An announcement on the bar's new Facebook page indicates that it hopes to offer "a new, festive, authentic and inclusive space".

The Brussels public prosecutor's office has been investigating possible sexual abuse in both El Café and nearby Waff for some time.