Question for vegans or vegetarians - would this bother you?

[ScreamingValenta]

I was reading this interesting article in the Telegraph:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/21/pub-changes-name-shoulder-mutton-bid-attract-vegans-vegetarians/

A pub called The Shoulder of Mutton has changed its name after 50 years, as the landlady wants to appeal more to vegetarian and vegan diners. It's been done alongside improving the menu choices for those diners which would seem to me a more effective way to attract new customers (but I'm not a vegetarian so can't really judge).

I was wondering whether this was likely to have been done just to generate publicity (it's succeeded!) or whether vegans and vegetarians genuinely find meat-themed pub names off-putting.

If you're vegetarian/vegan, would you avoid 'The Shoulder of Mutton' or similar?

Hmm , I wouldn't give it much thought personally, (I've been vegetarian for 38 years ), I'd be wondering if the name change was due to a change in management .

I won't be avoiding the town of "Wool" either.

In the article , they want the name to appeal to brides /wedding parties, they;re worried about putting people of with the old name ?

Wouldn't put me off at all. What would put me off is finding that the only veggie meal choice is veggie lasagna.

I don't avoid driving through the village of Upper Slaughter either

Dunno, never come across this. Maybe it would subconsciously. Actually, thinking about it, I probably would assume it was a pub for meat eaters and wouldn't have a veggie option, so if there were other pubs I would be more likely to check out their menus rather than this one.

So it probably is a good marketing strategy if she wants to widen her client base to veggies and vegans.

Yes, I noticed that as well. I suppose some brides might think 'The Shoulder of Mutton' wasn't a very glamorous name to have on their wedding invitations. I see it as a nice, traditional name and it wouldn't have put me off choosing it when I was getting married. It's better than 'The Slug and Lettuce'!

I wouldn't refuse to go there, but I would be put off and would only go if someone else had suggested it and I'd checked their menu options before.

If the menu was good, I wouldn’t care about the name.

It wouldn't stop me going there if invited by someone else, but I might make the assumption that it's a meat focussed place given the name. I would assume they had limited or no vegetarian choices and probably not bother giving it a try.

I wouldn't avoid. I actually hate the changing of pub names - I think they're part of our history!

The landlady has said a third of dishes on the new menu are suitable for vegans and vegetarians - that certainly seems above the average.

Having read the article, it seems like the me landlady just wanted to update the name to appeal to wedding parties and so on, not just because of wanting to attract vegetarians/vegans. But i guess that doesn't make such an interesting headline!

I’d be okay going there, but the inevitable comments would drive me up the wall (“You’re going where?! But you’re one of those vegetarians, aren’t you?! Not a place for you, surely??? Hahahaha!!!”)

The name isn't offensive, but changing it is definitely an effective way of getting the word out about 1/3 of the dishes being vegetarian or vegan.

Pubs often have really boring meat-free options so they aren't the first places I'd think to eat or choose for a venue so rebranding will likely help reach their target customer.

Ultimately, with the number of pubs failing in the UK I think it's great this woman is taking one over and trying a different angle to keep the pub tradition alive.

The landlady has said a third of dishes on the new menu are suitable for vegans and vegetarians - that certainly seems above the average.

A good publicity stunt then, to get attention. Excellent news.

I'd definitely make a beeline for it next time we are around York.

Wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest. Publicity stunt, and a clever one.

It's just occurred to me that perhaps the landlady is thinking of the phrase 'mutton dressed as lamb' when she's talking about the appeal as a wedding venue.

The name wouldn't put me off as a veggie, but I don't think it's a nice name so it's no time very appealing.

What does put me off is pubs where they have real stuffed heads of animals up everywhere or when they have stuffed fish in glass cases.

It’s just very clever marketing.

It's not a particularly nice name for a pub.

What gets me is when there is only 1 veggie option on the menu, and it's either risotto or pasta.

I can certainly see why you'd find stuffed stags heads and things unpleasant, Nails. I have to say, as a non-vegetarian, I would never even have thought about the presence of such things in the decor if I were choosing somewhere to eat with a party including vegetarians, so thank you for pointing that out as something to be aware of!

What gets me is when there is only 1 veggie option on the menu, and it's either risotto or pasta.

Or just a cheese baguette. I once had that for dinner three times in one week while away because ex refused to eat anywhere else than the pub attached to the hotel.

Bride spends months planning her wedding. Handmade invitations, delicate flower arrangements, personalised favours. The dress is swathes of chiffon, Tiffany diamonds twinkle throughout, and the groom is elegance itself.

One well meaning chap asks, "Where you getting married love?"

Shoulder of Mutton

The landlady has said the name change had nothing to do with the new menu and is a bit bewildered about all the attention - but in a good way. I think the vegan thing was an off the cuff remark that's been given a life of its own.

The pub locally had a reputation for being a bit rough. I've been in a few times and tbh it was a bit of a shit hole - has very much been smartened up now, but it wasn't the sort of place people would particularly want to go.

Hopefully with a total rebrand and decent menu it will do well - it certainly seems to be changing the target market from an old school 'drinkers pub'.

I've eaten at places called Slug and Lettuce. It wasn't the name that made me go.

Irrationally, I have never felt like eating at a pub called the Slug and Lettuce! The image of wilting salad was too strong. It used to be quite a trendy pub name (chain?) at one time IIRC.

Or just a cheese baguette. I once had that for dinner three times in one week while away because ex refused to eat anywhere else than the pub attached to the hotel.

Well, I can see why he's an ex.