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Greene King pub chain is renaming four of its boozers which have ‘racist’ names to promote equality.
The chain is targeting three pubs in the UK called ‘The Black Boy’ which are in Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Shinfield, as well as a boozer called ‘Black’s Head’ in Winksfield.
It’s hoped the plan will support people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and cement the company as an anti-racist institution.
Pub bosses researched the histories of each site to find out more about how they were first named.
Nick Mackenzie, Greene King CEO said: “It is important to acknowledge our history but just as important to work proactively to eradicate racism in our society today.
“We have looked at pub deeds, consulted with colleagues and while the origins of these pub names are obscure, what is clear is that there is a perception that they are linked with racism today and we want to make this positive change for the better.
“We know this is a decision that will attract a range of views and we’re conscious of the history and heritage of pub names.
“We’ve thought long and hard and feel this is the right thing to do as it is incredibly important to us that our pubs are warm and welcoming places for everyone as we continue on our journey to become a truly anti-racist organisation.”
He added they’ll be working with punters and regulars to decide on new names for the sites, taking ideas from the public as they go.
Halima Begum, director of the Runnymede Trust, the racial equality think tank, praised Greene King but said more needs to be done.
“No doubt members of BAME communities walk past these hostelries and read the names above the door every day,” she told the BBC.
“They are essentially having the history of oppression rubbed in their faces on a daily basis.”
It comes after a wave of Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, which saw many British establishments make changes to counter historic racism.
In June the distinctive “gallows” sign featuring the smiling head of a black boy was removed from the Green Man and Black’s Head Inn in Ashbourne, Derbyshire after thousands signed a petition deeming it racist.
The following month a Kent pub called The Black Boy was renamed to The Restoration.
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