Pub pressured to vary its historic identify as individuals say it is offensive | UK | News | EUROtoday

A pub named after an iconic British automotive has been pressured to vary its identify – as a result of individuals say it’s offensive.

The Midget in Oxfordshire got here below fireplace after a lecturer with dwarfism mentioned its identify was offensive and launched a web based petition to rename it – rapidly garnering 500 signatures with the quantity tonight standing at over 1,300.

The pub, a part of the nationwide Greene King chain and located within the city of Abingdon close to Oxford, is now set to endure a six-figure refurbishment from the franchise.

It was beforehand claimed that the pub was named The Magic Midget, after the MG EX 127 automotive, constructed by the city’s former MG manufacturing unit and nicknamed the Magic Midget. The automotive broke the world land pace file of 120mph in 1932.

But its branding was modified to easily The Midget in 2002. It was claimed this was a reference to the very fact MG went on to supply a wider vary of ‘Midget’ fashions of automotive.

It will now be referred to as The Roaring Raindrop, after one other MG automotive which was constructed to try the land pace file within the fifties.

The pub has been open since 1974 off Preston Road within the city. Work on its refurb will start later this month.

Dr Erin Pritchard, a senior lecturer in Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University, launched the petition demanding the identify be modified because it was deemed offensive to some individuals.

They mentioned Greene King “should recognise the offence of the term and its implications”.

Dr Pritchard, who spoke with Greene King in regards to the matter, mentioned: “The time period midget is a type of disablist hate speech, which I and most different individuals with dwarfism, have skilled as a type of bullying, together with having it shouted at us by strangers.

“It is a term that should be consigned to the history books.”

The Roaring Raindrop was the last ever record breaking EX 181 car from MG built in Abingdon, and was driven by the iconic Sir Stirling Moss in 1957.

Sir Stirling Moss set a land speed record of 245.6mph over a distance of 1km at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA before the car then broke its own record of 254.9mph in 1959.

Zoe Bowley, managing director of Greene King pubs, said: “I’m delighted that we’re investing such a significant sum in bringing a new lease of life to this true community pub in its 50th year.

“Pubs are at the heart of communities and are all about bringing people together. I would like to thank the MG Car Club for welcoming us into their headquarters in Abingdon to explain the history of both cars and their importance to the area.

“We hope that making the change on this approach helps to protect our pub’s historic hyperlinks to Abingdon’s previous whereas concurrently guaranteeing our pub generally is a place the place everybody feels welcome.”

The new identify was labored on by the MG Car Club, which is predicated within the city’s Cemetery Road.

Andy Knott, MG Car Club supervisor, mentioned: “Working with Greene King has been unbelievable. For the MG Car Club, it was important to protect the pub’s connection to the marque.

“With MG moving to Abingdon in 1929 and building iconic cars for 50 years, it’s become a significant part of the town’s history. The name MG still draws thousands of enthusiasts to Abingdon every year.

“EX 181, known as The Roaring Raindrop, marked MG Abingdon’s final foray into record breaking in 1959.”