Retford pub sign removed after 'protest warnings'

The landlady of the Black Boy pub in Retford, said she had been considering taking the sign down after she received warnings online, and a call from a local police officer.

It is understood the sign – which depicts the face of a young boy in uniform – has now been removed.

Louise Presley, who has been the landlady at the pub for more than nine years, said upsetting people was ‘the last thing she wanted to do’, but that now, after having been closed for three months due to coronavirus, she may have to pay for a new sign to be made.

She says her research has shown the name of the pub is thought to have come from King Charles – ‘black boy’ was a nickname given to him by his mother due to his dark complexion.

She said: “It’s a shame it has to come to this, the name of the pub has got nothing to do with racism.

“I don’t hold with people being prejudiced, and in the years I’ve been here we’ve never had anyone object to it.

“We used to have, on the back of the wine list, an explanation of why the pub got its name because a lot of people are interested in its history.

“It would be a shame to change the name.

“In our area, we have had a lot of support, but in all honesty, we are looking at taking the sign down because protesters might be turning up.

“We don’t want to upset anyone.

“We had the local police to see if we were alright and check if we needed anything.

“Changing the pub sign might be what we’ve got to do.

“We would have to have it all painted and it’s an expense we can’t really afford at the moment.

“It’s upsetting, not just for us but for everyone that the situation has come round to what it is.”

A spokesman for Bassetlaw District Council said: “We understand that the pub have chosen to remove the sign themselves.

“As this is a listed building the council is more than happy to help and advise the licensees in relation to any new signage for the pub.”

Susan Shaw is a Labour councillor for the area, and said a debate was needed about the name and the sign before any decision is made.

She said: “It’s part of the history and you shouldn’t just be covering that up.

“I feel very sorry for the landlord, they haven’t had any business for months and now they are having to deal with this.

“But we do need a wider debate, and to think about how we use this moment in history for good.

“So I think we need to be measured, and look at it calmly.

“The name doesn’t sit well with me personally, however we need a debate and we need to do some proper consultation about the mood of Bassetlaw, and I think this is a really good opportunity to do that.

“I don’t think we can just go round taking every sign down that someone might disagree with.

“We need to have a proper discussion and to think about the consequences.”