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Greene King to rename pubs 'linked with racism'

The UK's largest pub chain has historic links to slavery 
The UK's largest pub chain has historic links to slavery

Greene King will rebrand four pubs with names “linked with racism” after revelations of historic links to slavery.

Three pubs currently called The Black Boy, and one called Black’s Head, will be renamed due to their potentially offensive connotations.

Bosses at the UK’s largest pub retailer decided to address the names while working to “eradicate racism” following revelations about the chain's historic links to slavery last year.

The Telegraph understands that Greene King's decision was in part prompted by this newspaper finding that its 19th century founder Benjamin Greene received the equivalent of £500,000 in compensation for his West Indies plantations after abolition.

Although the company admits there is no consensus on the racial origins of the obscure pub names due to be removed, its consultation concluded that people found them offensive.

Black Boy venues in Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury in Suffolk and Shinfield in Berkshire, along with the Black’s Head in Derbyshire's Wirksworth, will have new “inclusive” appellations picked by the public from a shortlist.

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’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.”

Nick Mackenzie has backed the changes
Nick Mackenzie has backed the changes

In June 2020 Mr Mackenzie said the company’s links to slavery were “inexcusable” after they were revealed through a University College London database of slave profiteers.

Greene King pledged it would make “substantial investment” in black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities as part of anti-racism efforts in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests.

Mr Mackenzie has accepted there may be a backlash against the decision to further tackle racism by rebranding venues, adding “we’re conscious of the history and heritage of pub names”.

He said that those served by the renamed pubs will be involved in selecting new names which will be “inclusive” so they “remain at the heart of communities”.

Locals are being notified ahead of an online poll allowing communities to pick from a list of pre-set suggestions for each of the four pubs.

While pub names are obscure, it has been theorised that “Black Boy” title found across the UK comes from a moniker given to Charles II by his mother Henrietta Maria of France due to his sable hair and dark complexion.

Greene King’s said the renamed had been signed off thorough consultation with different groups, and research of the pubs’ histories.

It is part of the company’s plans for increased inclusion, which last year led bosses to pledge all 38,000 employees would be educated on the slave trade.

The chain, Greene King, which has more than 3,000 pubs across the UK, teamed up with the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool to "educate people about the shocking human exploitation which took place”.