Islamist Khalid Baqa has lodged a lawsuit against the landlord of The Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Baqa, who served four years and eight months in prison for disseminating jihadist propaganda on the London Underground, claims that the pub’s sign depicting a bearded man in a turban is “racist, xenophobic, and incites violence.” He is demanding £1,850 in damages and has vowed to extend his campaign to 30 other pubs bearing the same name if successful.
“The depiction instilled fear in me,” Baqa stated in his submission to the county court, as reported by The Telegraph. “It’s clearly inciting hatred against certain groups.” He also alleges that he contacted the pub on multiple occasions to request the removal of the sign, although The Sun says staff at the historic establishment have no record of these communications.
The Saracen’s Head, which has been in operation for 500 years, takes its name from a term historically used to describe Arabs or Muslims, particularly during the Crusades. Landlord Robbie Hayes, 52, has categorically dismissed the lawsuit as “a complete joke,” insisting the sign reflects history rather than bigotry:
No one at this pub is racist. We won’t be pushed around and change hundreds of years of history just because someone wants to cause trouble.
Landlords rally to defend tradition
The lawsuit has drawn support from other landlords of Saracen’s Head pubs across the country. Brian Walker of Skegness called the claim “completely absurd,” tellinging The Telegraph, “This is just another example of pandering to the easily offended.” Andrei Slipzenko, who manages a Saracen’s Head in Newton Abbot, branded the situation “a disgrace,” saying, “This name dates back centuries. It’s part of our heritage.”
Robbie Hayes has welcomed this solidarity, suggesting the formation of a coalition of pubs to resist what he called “nonsense lawsuits.” Meanwhile, patrons at Saracen’s Head pubs across the country have voiced their disdain for Baqa’s claims. One punter in Towcester opined
What’s next? Will someone sue a pub called The White Lion because they’re afraid of animals or the word ‘white’?
Patrons and staff have echoed similar sentiments in other Saracen’s Head locations. In Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, head chef Caroline Machell-Ranson described the lawsuit as “crazy,” pointing out that the pub’s name and sign have been an integral part of the village’s identity since the 16th century. “No one has ever complained before,” she told The Daily Mail. “It’s just ridiculous.”
A history of controversial pub names
The Saracen’s Head is far from the only British pub name to court controversy. According to The Mail, The Black Boy, Labour in Vain, and even Ye Olde Fighting Cocks have all faced demands for rebranding. The Black Boy Inn, for example, was renamed The Bewdley Inn after critics argued the name had racial connotations, though it historically referred to King Charles II’s dark complexion.
Another pub embroiled in controversy is The Labour in Vain, a name with origins that remain murky. It is often tied to a folklore story of a white woman who gave birth to a black child and tried and failed to scrub the child white before her husband found out—a term symbolic of futile efforts. The pub’s original sign, depicting a similar scene, was removed after numerous complaints over the years. A referendum among villagers once voted overwhelmingly to keep the sign, though its prominence has since been diminished in favour of less controversial imagery.
The Black Bitch, located in Linlithgow, West Lothian, faced a similar predicament. Despite its name referring to the black female greyhound that has been on the town’s crest for at least 700 years, owners Greene King opted to rename it The Willow Tree. The decision sparked an uproar, with 11,000 people signing a petition to retain the original name. Protestors argued the term was a symbol of pride and local identity, devoid of any racist intent. Nonetheless, Greene King’s decision held.
In another instance, The Midget pub in Abingdon, originally named after the classic MG Midget sports car manufactured in the Oxfordshire town, was rechristened The Roaring Raindrop following complaints from disability rights campaigners. Dr Erin Pritchard, a disabilities studies lecturer, spearheaded the campaign, arguing the original name was rooted in “disablist hate speech.” Despite a counter-petition amassing over 5,000 signatures, the change went ahead.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists have taken aim at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans and The Sly Old Fox in Birmingham. PETA’s suggestion to rename the latter “The Clever Old Fox” was met with ridicule, with one local quipping, “Foxes don’t care about pub signs. They’re too busy being foxes.”
The backlash against name changes often revolves around the argument that these pub names are part of Britain’s history and heritage. Many critics claim that altering them amounts to an erasure of cultural and historical context. Historians have pointed out that names like The Saracen’s Head were often intended as a mark of respect for the fighting qualities of Crusader-era adversaries, rather than as a derogatory term.
Who’s next to be offended?
The current climate of re-evaluating historic pub names raises the question: who else might take offence? Perhaps a paleontologist will protest The Fossil and Firkin for promoting an outdated view of evolution. Or maybe a vegetarian will file a grievance against The Slaughtered Lamb for its carnivorous overtones.
In Baqa’s case, his statement that he has “stopped all the terrorism stuff now” has done little to engender public sympathy. Toby Young of the Free Speech Union summed up the general sentiment:
It’s a bit rich for someone jailed for inciting violence to complain about a pub sign inciting violence.
As for Robbie Hayes and his fellow Saracen’s Head landlords, they appear ready to dig in their heels. “You can’t whitewash history,” one pub worker declared. For now, it seems the historic name will endure—unless, of course, someone with a vendetta against medieval history decides to take them all on.
