British pubs are renowned for their weird and wonderful names – from the Drunken Duck to the Cat Custard Pot.
But sometimes pub names that have existed for generations, or even centuries, can cause controversy – leaving owners at the centre of social media storms, petitions or targeted campaigns of abuse.
The Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, hit the headlines this week with convicted terrorist Khalid Baqa taking the pub to court over its sign depicting a brown-skinned man of Arab or Turkish descent.
Mr Baqa says that the sign ‘instilled worry and fear in me since it was clearly xenophobic, racist and inciting violence to certain people.’
Having previously spent four years behind bars for preparing Jihadi propaganda, he now wants more than £1,000 from the Saracen’s Head.
The pub’s landlord Robbie Hayes is refusing to change the name, telling The Sun: ‘It’s a complete joke. This has been called The Saracen’s Head for 500 years’
But the Saracen’s Head is far from the only British pub to run into trouble over its unusual name.
The following are only a few of the drinking spots that people have attempted to cancel or that were forced to change their name.
Baqa said the sign – which depicts a brown-skinned man of Arab or Turkish descent – ‘instilled worry and fear in me since it was clearly xenophobic, racist and inciting violence to certain people’
Khalid Baqa, who has previously spent four years behind bars for preparing Jihadi propaganda, wants over £1,000 from the Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham for what he described as the racist ‘depiction of a bearded Arab/Turk’ on the pub’s sign
Speaking to The Sun , Robbie Hayes (pictured) said: ‘It’s a complete joke. This has been called The Saracen’s Head for 500 years’
The Midget
Only last week The Midget pub in Abingdon reopened its doors as the Roaring Raindrop after a swirl of controversy around its name.
Owners Greene King say the watering hole, which opened as ‘The Magic Midget’ in 1974, took its original name from the classic MG Midget sports car which was manufactured in the Oxfordshire town.
But the name was labelled ‘disablist hate speech’ by Dr Erin Pritchard, a disabilities studies lecturer at Liverpool Hope University, who started a petition that gathered more than 1,300 signatures.
Dr Pritchard, who herself has dwarfism and previously campaigned for Marks and Spencer to rename their Midget Gem sweets to Mini Gems, said that she and other people with dwarfism regard the original name as a ‘derogatory slur’ and find it ‘offensive’.
Writing on her petition, Dr Pritchard said: ‘Midget is a derogatory word used towards people with dwarfism. It is a term derived from the word ‘midge’ meaning Gnat or Sand-fly, which is dehumanising.
‘It was a term popularised during the Victorian freak show, but unfortunately continues to be used as a form of hate speech towards people with dwarfism.
‘People with dwarfism, including children with the condition experience name calling on a daily basis. They have experienced this word being shouted at them.’
She added: ‘Whilst Greene King claims that the pub is named after the MG Midget car, the phasing does not reflect this, especially whilst it omits “MG”.’
The Midget pub opened in 1974 but was rebranded as the Roaring Raindrop following a petition by a disability rights lecturer at Liverpool Hope University who branded the original name offensive
The watering hole was named after the classic MG car, which was manufactured in its Oxfordshire town of Abingdon
Disablity lecturer Dr Erin Pritchard started a petition to change the name, which she said was ‘disablist hate speech’
‘Furthermore, the origins of the name of that car come from freak show terminology, which is disablist hate speech and flouts the Equality Act (2010).”
Dr Pritchard’s petition did attract a counter-petition by Joe Lawlor, who wrote: ‘I’m sure a lot of people will disagree with this decision, and in my opinion I think it is ridiculous. The naming is part of Abingdon’s history.’
More than 5,000 people signed the counter-petition but to no avail, as the watering hole reopened on December 13 as the Roaring Raindrop after a ‘six-figure’ refurbishment.
The new name derives from another iconic MG car the EX181, shaped like a raindrop, which British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE used to smash a speed record of 245.6 miles per hour in 1957.
The Black Bitch
The Midget-owners Greene King previously found itself in hot water over a pub called The Black Bitch in Linlithgow, West Lothian, amid fears the name could be seen as racist.
Its origins derived from a female greyhound that formed part of the town’s traditional crest – but pub bosses opted to rename it The Willow Tree regardless.
The Black Bitch pub in Linlithgow, West Lothian, before the name change, which came after lengthy consultation with external groups, including West Lothian Community Race Forum
Outraged campaigners hoped to reverse the plans and more than 500 objections were submitted while a petition to stop the move gathered more than 11,000 names
According to local lore, ‘The Black Bitch’ dates back to the 17th century and was named after a black female greyhound (pictured above) that forms part of the town’s crest
Outraged campaigners hoped to reverse the plans and more than 500 objections were submitted while a petition to stop the move gathered more than 11,000 names.
Back in 2022, the West Lothian History and Amenity Society said: ‘The term “Black Bitch” has been associated with the town for over 700 years, natives of Linlithgow are proud to be known as “Black Bitches”; it is a term of affection with no negative connotations.
‘The term describes a female canine, rightly called a bitch which is black in colour – nothing offensive, no misogyny involved.
‘Greene King have jumped to the wrong conclusions and read something into the name which does not exist.’
Greene King turned to the Government in a bid to have the move rubber stamped after West Lothian Council deferred a planning decision and eventually got the go ahead to make the name change in November 2022.
Labour In Vain
The Labour In Vain pub in Yarnsfield, Staffordshire, celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2020 but was at the centre of repeated controversy.
Locals battled for 20 years to keep the sign locals which shows a black boy being scrubbed in the bath by a white couple.
The pub’s name is believed to stem from a story about a white woman giving birth to a black baby and then resorting to the ‘vain labour’ of trying to scrub him white to avoid her husband’s reaction.
The Labour In Vain pub in Yarnsfield, Staffordshire, which was at the centre of a race row due to its historic sign
The pub’s sign shows a black boy being scrubbed in the bath by a white couple, a racist reference to the ‘vain labour’ of trying to make him ‘clean’
The sign was first removed in 1994 after two 10-year-old girls complained and was then replaced by a farmer sowing seeds.
In 2001, then-licensees Christine and John Glover found the sign and hung it in the beer garden, prompting the Stafford and District Racial Equality Council to request it be removed from view. The sign was given less prominence, but remained on display in the garden.
In 2009 Vince Hannant and Debbie Donovan took over the pub and again there was talk that the ‘sign should come down’.
But at the time Mr Hannant was reported as saying the locals told him, ‘Don’t even touch it, we’ve been though so much to keep it.’
Pub regular Richard Charwood was said to have then arranged a referendum of villagers to find out if they wanted to keep it. They were reportedly overwhelmingly in favour of doing so.
The pub came to the attention of race campaigners who called for its removal, but the intervention of the so-called Pub Sign Project Committee angered many in the village.
It now seems that the pub has closed, but there is an ongoing petition by a branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to try and save it.
Animal rights activists have demanded the Sly Old Fox pub in Birmingham (pictured) change its name because it is ‘derogatory’ towards foxes
The Sly Old Fox in Birmingham
This historic pub situated opposite the famous Hippodrome in Hurst Street was targeted by animal rights activists, who claimed its name is ‘derogatory’ towards foxes.
PETA has suggested the pub, which dates back to 1891 and has hosted a number of famous faces including Charlie Chaplin, becomes ‘The Clever Old Fox’ instead.
They have argued the current name is ‘negative’ and perpetuates foxes’ ‘unearned’ reputation as pests.
‘The word ‘sly’ often carries negative connotations like ‘deceitful’ – a wholly inaccurate and unfair perception of foxes,’ Elisa Allen, vice president of programmes at PETA, wrote.
‘We hope you agree that these magnificent animals deserve our respect.’
However, PETA’s response was widely ridiculed on social media – and the pub retains its historic name:
One person on X wrote: ‘These activists are delusional if they honestly believe foxes will be offended by a pub sign! I wasn’t aware foxes could even read.’
Another posted: ‘Do foxes care? Nope they just carry on being foxes. Those with too much time on their hands need to find something else to occupy their time with.
A third said: ‘Foxes have been boycotting that pub for years.’ A fourth simply wrote: ‘Ridiculous.’
PETA has argued words like ‘sly’ contribute to foxes’ negative reputation as pests
PETA’s suggestion for the pub to change its name has been ridiculed by users on social media
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans is another pub targeted by hardcore animal rights organisation PETA over its name.
One of the drinking holes claiming to be Britain’s oldest, it claims to had a business operating on the grounds since 793AD, although the the earliest reference to it being an alehouse is in 1756.
In 2022 PETA asked the new owners to rename it ‘The Happy Hens’, with activists alternatively suggesting Ye Olde Clever Cocks or The Cheery Chooks.
Activists said the pub’s name ‘calls to mind the violence and cruelty of a hideous blood sport that has been outlawed in the UK for more than a century’.
Campaigners also demanded the pub, which serves classic British grub, adopt a fully plant-based menu.
The pub is said to date back to AD793, which would make it the oldest in England, according to Guinness World Records. At one point it was known as ‘the Round House’ due to its shape
PETA says the pub’s name ‘calls to mind the violence and cruelty of a hideous blood sport that has been outlawed in the UK for more than a century’
This sign tells the legend that Oliver Cromwell stayed at the pub for one night during the Civil War, stabling his horse in what is now the bar
The Black Boy Pub
The Black Boy Inn, in Bewdley, Worcestershire, changed its name after more than 200 years in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Back in 2021, the leaseholders said Stonegate Pubs, the brewery which owns the 15th Century tavern, ordered them to change the name ‘because of the Black Lives Matter movement’ and that they had ‘no say in it’.
The pub was renamed The Bewdley Inn – a decision which left many locals angry.
Historians believe King Charles II was referred to as the ‘black boy’ because it was a nickname given to him by his mother due to his dark hair and complexion.
The building dates back nearly 600 years and has been known as The Black Boy Inn since the early 19th Century. Before that it was known as The Blackamoors Head.
Locals were critical of the decision to rename the pub, saying the term ‘Black Boy’ is not racist.
The Black Boy Inn, in Bewdley, Worcestershire, was renamed The Bewdley Inn ‘because of the Black Lives Matter movement’ but the pub’s owners disputed this, saying it was part of a company rebrand
The pub was previously known as The Black Boy Inn in honour of King Charles II, whom historians believe was referred to as the ‘black boy’ because it was a nickname given to him by his mother due to his dark hair and complexion
The Saracen’s Head
A convicted terrorist is taking a pub to court after he claimed to be deeply offended by the sign outside the venue.
Khalid Baqa, who has previously spent four years behind bars for preparing Jihadi propaganda, wants more than £1,000 from the Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
He has criticised what he described as the racist ‘depiction of a bearded Arab/Turk’ on the pub’s sign and also insisted the depiction ‘incites violence’.
Baqa has asked for £1,850 from the landlord and has also announced plans for take on over 30 other pubs with the same name if successful.
However, the landlord of the pub is fighting back against the lawsuit which he has slammed as a ‘complete joke.’
Speaking to The Sun, Robbie Hayes said: ‘This has been called The Saracen’s Head for 500 years.
‘He’s just chancing his hand. Of course it worries me – you never know with people like this.’
The 52-year-old added that none of his pubgoers are racist and that he did not believe the sign or the name were racist but instead were ‘simply historic’.
The Saracens Head in was taken to court by convicted terrorist Khalid Baqa due to its sign depicting a man of Arabic descent
Baqa has filed a ‘claim of money’ form an application to county court for a sum of cash a person believes they are owed.
His application was previously referred to a small claims court.
In a submission explaining the reason behind his claim, Baqa said the sign – which depicts a brown-skinned man of Arab or Turkish descent – ‘instilled worry and fear in me since it was clearly xenophobic, racist and inciting violence to certain people.’
He goes on to claim to have contacted the pub four times and even visited the public house in person. However staff at the Saracen’s Head Inn have no record.
In 2018, Baqa was jailed for four years and eight months after admitting five counts of dissemination of Terrorist publications.
Speaking to The Sun, he claimed to have always been offended by pub names like the Buckinghamshire pub.
Saracen was a term used until the 5th century to refer to Arabs and and then also Muslims years later.
It is among the most popular name for a pub in the UK alongside titles such as the Red Lion.
Despite the name harking back to the time of the crusades, this pub was only built in 1530.
MailOnline have approached the Saracen’s Head Inn for a comment.
