The new owners of a historic pub near Ripon have confirmed they will change its name to make the venue 'more inclusive' whilst preserving its heritage.
The Black A Moor Inn, a former coaching inn near Ripon Racecourse, is set to be renamed the Furlong and Furrow.
The move follows its takeover by Laura Davis and James Campbell, who previously managed The Malt Shovel.
Explaining their decision, the pair said they were keen to retain the building’s character while addressing concerns around the existing name.
They said:
“Part of the reason we fell in love with the Black A Moor, is because of its stunning historical features and it's traditional rustic charm.
"We promise we will be leaving that well alone and keeping it as a traditional pub and eatery."
The pair added that the name change reflects evolving attitudes.
They said:
“The name change is simply because in today's era, some would feel the name a little insensitive due to its relations to the slave trade and European artistic trope from the sixteenth to the eighteen centuries.
"We want our venue to be inclusive to all and to carry no unwelcome bad relations to racism.
“The decision was NOT taken lightly and we understand that some will be saddened by this.
“We totally respect the history behind it and we hope that the public will understand our reasonings for this in today's modern era.”
They also stressed that the pub’s history would not be lost as part of the rebrand, with plans to create a display celebrating its past.
“We want to reassure you that history will not be lost.
"We will be working on a feature wall that incorporates the Black A Moor' historical legacy and would welcome any photos or stories you may have to capture this.”
Alongside the name change, the exterior of the building will be updated in keeping with the surrounding area, while the interior will retain its existing features with a refreshed look.
The owners say the venue will offer traditional food and drink, with an emphasis on seasonal dining and local ales.
Further plans include refurbishing guest rooms into boutique-style accommodation, although this is expected to take place at a later stage.
A soft opening is being targeted for 15th May.
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