A Melbourne bar owner has apologised and removed a sign which stipulated “No poofter drinks” in Fitzroy, Victoria.

Steve Miller, proprietor of Handsome Steve’s House of Refreshment in Brunswick Street, an especially liberal and gay-friendly area of Melbourne, was forced to remove the sign after a heated debate on the weekend with bar-goers.

Patron Steve Wakefield claimed himself and 20 friends were drinking at Handsome Steve’s on Saturday night when they noticed the words on the menu, which also included drinks such as “Whine” and “Lemonade of Honour”.

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“To see something like that, come on man, this isn’t 1995. You can have those jokes with your friends, but to be on a sign is a bit rude,” Mr Wakefield told the Herald Sun.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Mr Miller said the phrase was intended to be funny, and in fact referred to a famous Australian anecdote in which a dinner receipt included the item “One poofter drink”.

Mr Miller also said the sign had been on display for seven years, including when Handsome Steve’s was located in Abbotsford.

He said various gay visitors to the bar had previously found the sign “hilarious”.

“If I’ve given offence to anybody, I unconditionally apologise. I unreservedly apologise,” Mr Miller posted on Facebook.

Various commenters claimed the owner had kicked out the customers who were complaining, yet Mr Miller denied this.

Following an onslaught of negative comments, Mr Miller said he was “computer illiterate” and invited anyone interested to come to the bar and discuss the situation in person.

Among the many negative comments were multiple commenters opposing the backlash, and claiming what was meant as a “lighthearted joke” had been blown out of proportion.