A pub in Bristol has been branded ‘Britain’s wokest’ after its landlord made the decision to ban the sale of Thatcher’s cider, Heineken, Coca Cola and Bacardi at the bar.
The Red Lion in Bristol made the move after a campaign was launched in the city to boycott Somerset cider makers Thatcher’s.
Countering Colston, an activist group in Bristol, revealed last week that the cider company’s director and fourth-generation cider-maker was a member of a merchants’ society with deep links to slave trader Edward Colston.
After this came to light, bosses at The Red Lion said it would be ‘hypocritical’ to continue selling the cider.
They then also made the decision to ban Heineken beers, Coca Cola and Bacardi as the companies behind these products are also accused of maintaining unethical production practises around the globe.
Criticism of the pub has come in thick and fast from culture warriors online, but bosses at The Red Lion are sticking to their morals on the matter.
Landlord Lemmy has spoken out, telling the South West News Service.: ‘We have taken what we consider to be an ethical stance — it’s part of who we all are.
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‘We have been labelled “woke” and all these weaponised words, which have made us feel pretty vulnerable.’
“When we have taken the stance which we believe is ethical, we do not want to be made some kind of target.”
Elaborating on the pub’s decision not to sell Coca Cola and other products deemed unethical, he added: “We don’t serve Coca-Cola because they have a history of seriously bad use of water in third-world countries,”
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Image: Google
The pub also does not sell Polish lager Tyskie, because of the company’s apparent links with the anti-LGBTQ movement.
It emerged earlier this month that Thatcher’s cider director and fourth-generation cider-maker Martin Thatcher has been a member of a merchants’ society with deep links to slave trader Edward Colston since 2012.
Countering Colston, an activist group in Bristol, launched the boycott-Thatcher’s campaign last week in protest at the Society of the Merchant Venturers (SMV’s) deep links with Bristol’s historical slave trade.
The activist group tweeted: “Martin Thatcher, director of the company, is a member of the Society of the Merchant Venturers.
“The SMV has deep roots in the historical slave trade in Bristol, and its members were responsible for the suffering and death of tens of thousands of human beings.
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“They are a powerful unelected elite who have significant influence on political and civic life in Bristol.”
Feature image – Google
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Police pursuing civil action after reports of women being filmed without consent on nights out in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Civil action is now being pursued after a police investigation into reports of women being filmed on nights out in Manchester.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed in a statement that it is ‘exploring’ civil action in connection with ‘several’ reports of women being filmed without their consent on nights out in Manchester city centre, particularly around the Deansgate and Peter Street areas, following an investigation which began after social media videos of this nature were brought to its attention.
The police‘s subsequent public appeal lead to multiple women coming forward to report the impact finding themselves in these videos, and the commentary by the public, had on them.
GMP says it had to conclude its criminal investigation ‘due to limitations within the current legislation’, which is why it working with Manchester City Council to look at other routes of taking action.
“We took the reports from women who came forward, as well as the public feeling towards this behaviour, really seriously,” explained Superintendent Nicola Williams, from GMP’s City of Manchester district.
“The arrest of an individual in November 2024 was the first in the country and was our commitment to acting on all the information we have received.
“Throughout our investigation, we explored all lines of enquiry thoroughly, including digital forensic examination of various devices. The investigation was also reviewed by an experienced, senior detective to ensure no stone was left unturned.
Police are pursuing civil action after reports of women being filmed without their consent on nights out in Manchester / Credit: GMP
“Predatory behaviour is completely unacceptable, and tackling this has been a priority for our night time economy policing operation.”
GMP says it encourages anyone who experiences anything that ‘makes them feel unsettled or unsafe’ on a night out to report it, as all information received helps build a picture of the issues, allocate our resources effectively, and take action under our the dedicated nighttime policing operation, Op Safer Streets.
Reports can be made to GMP via 101, or on the website or Live Chat service, but you should always call 999 in an emergency.
Featured Image – GMP
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Entertainment union Equity makes £1 bid for Manchester Pride to protect workers from ‘further exploitation’
Emily Sergeant
Performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity has made a £1 bid for Manchester Pride.
You may remember that, back in October last year, Manchester Pride – the charity / organisation that ran the Manchester Pride Festival – entered into voluntary liquidation, and news emerged last week that the assets were being sold off to the highest bidder by liquidators.
By offering a ‘symbolic’ £1 for the assets – which include the Manchester Pride brand name and associated domain names – Equity says its bid has been made to give workers the opportunity to ‘decide the future’ of the event.
The bid is also said to have been made to prevent a repeat of 2025 – which apparently left Equity union members more than £70,000 out-of-pocket in unpaid fees.
Equity’s variety organiser, Nick Keegan, warned that selling the Manchester Pride brand to a commercial buyer risks ‘undermining the values’ of the event and the community that built it.
He worried it could also leave performers and workers ‘vulnerable to further exploitation’.
“Manchester Pride is not just a city-wide party,” Mr Keegan explained. “Its roots in protest are as important today as then.”
He added: “Manchester Pride was built by the LGBTQ+ workers of Canal St and beyond who provide a space and a community for LGBTQ+ people all year round. The event should not be treated as a commodity to be bought and sold off to the highest bidder.
“The cultural workforce are at the heart of Pride, without them, there is no festival.
“After what happened in 2025, with members left tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket, we don’t want to see history repeat itself.”
Equity says that if its bid is successful, the workers will have control over who the ‘asset’ goes to.
“Our bid is about protecting Pride as a community asset, not a commercial one,” the union’s statement continued.
“Allowing the people whose labour was used to build this ‘asset’ to decide how the trademark of Manchester Pride is used in the future will help protect them from further exploitation, as well as preserve the values and the longevity of the event itself.”
Georgina Pellant -
18th February 2022 
