Black Bitch pub name change campaigners "genuinely concerned" racist abuse will escalate

13.01.2022 - 15:11 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Campaigners fighting moves to rename the historic Black Bitch pub in Linlithgow say they are “genuinely concerned” the already volatile situation could escalate after some received vile racist abuse.

Police Scotland are investigating “hate crime” messages sent to members of the movement, who are trying to stop owners Greene King changing its name.

More than 11,000 locals have signed a petition –called Stop the Black Bitch Pub Name Change – demanding the pub keep its original name, which has long been a nickname for local townsfolk and symbolises a well-known local legend dating back to at least the 17th century.

Campaigner Alistair Old warned: “We have started to see a level of racial abuse in the town that is unprecedented and if they go ahead and change the name, we don’t know what will happen next. We are genuinely concerned this could escalate.”

The Black Bitch name is associated with the town’s coat of arms, which portrays the legend of a greyhound who saved his master when he was sentenced to starve to death on an island in Linlithgow loch.

The controversial plans have attracted widespread attention and many campaigners have been singled out for abuse, leading police to launch an inquiry.

Alistair continued: “We met with Greene King in December and went along with some compromises and solutions, things like more signage on the pub itself to explain the name, but they totally rejected everything out of hand.

“The just gave a verbal regurgitation of how they want it to be inclusive and welcoming, as if the pub isn’t already that.

“We did mention we had seen a rise in racist abuse and I went and spoke to some of the black and Asian community who said they have been directly impacted by people stopping them in the street and