Twitter storm over party theme
Pub scraps 'offensive' mental patient Halloween party
The Broadway, in Bournemouth, advertised the event offering free shots to ‘deranged doctors and nurses’.
The “Broadway Mental Asylum" event has been labelled a damaging stigma, with a mental health blog claiming it is demonising to patients.
But Greene King's cancellation of the event and apology led to a debate on social media.
Many condemned the pub:
.@greeneking Your Bournemouth pub has a very damaging poster up asking people to dress as 'mental patients' for Halloween. Please remove.
— Katie (@katiehodgie) October 18, 2015
Good to see prompt action & removal of dreadful stigmatising poster. But it's not about 'offence', it's about harm. https://t.co/EL2dqPv8Fm
— Mental Health (@Sectioned_) October 19, 2015
The venue’s pubco Greene King apologised for the unsanctioned event.
@bilijobaggins We apologise for any offence caused by what was a local unsanctioned initiative. The poster has been removed.
— Greene King CustCare (@greenekingcares) October 19, 2015
The manager of the pub apologised, and said the pub acted promptly to complaints.
A Greene King spokesman added: 'We apologise for any offence caused by the poster at the Broadway pub. This was not part of a wider Greene King initiative and was removed as soon as it was brought to our attention.
'It should never have appeared and we will be working with the team on additional training to make sure this cannot happen again.
'We would like to reiterate that Greene King takes diversity extremely seriously across the business and our pubs and restaurants offer a welcome to all.'
What's a great pub theme for Halloween? Send your ideas to oli.gross@wrbm.com