A Bristol pub that served Thatchers "before it was big" has responded to negativity on social media after announcing that it will no longer be serving its products.
The Red Lion is one of three pubs in the Easton and wider BS5 area that has decided not to re-stock Thatchers. The community pub on Whitehall Road, which was part of the veg box scheme providing food to vulnerable people during the pandemic, has always taken an ethical stance in its stock choices.
It has never served Coca-Cola or Heineken products and recently stopped buying the Polish larger Tyskie, after the company that owns it was linked to an anti-LGBT movement. At the time of the decision to stop serving Tyskie, the pub posted its reasoning on social media and despite the popularity of the drink, had virtually no backlash.
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In contrast, the disappearance of the famous Somerset drink has caused a "massive fuss". Earlier this month campaign group Countering Colston called for a boycott of the brand, because company director Martin Thatcher is a member of the Society of the Merchant Venturers.
The society has long been criticised for its historical links to the slave trade and Edward Colston. Although the Red Lion was one of the first to start selling Thatchers before it was popular, its landlord says the pub had been considering ending its contract with the cider company for several years for reasons not linked to the recent controversy.
However, in a Facebook post last week, the pub criticised the Merchant Venturers and confirmed that it would not be buying any more Thatchers cider and "when it's gone it's gone for good" - and not everyone was happy about it in the comments.
Pub landlord Lemmy said he is surprised that the decision has “caused this massive fuss". He told Bristol Live: “We choose all our products based on ethics but people are calling it politics, it’s not politics.
“Our alcohol selection is based on the Ethical Consumer magazine guidelines, we’ve never sold Coca-Cola and we don’t serve Heineken.
“People don’t look at the bigger picture, we took on Thatchers early on, before Thatchers were really a big thing.
“Thatchers did a really good job of bringing decent cider to the masses but that product is not the same product it was back then - like any product when you’re making millions of gallons, you can’t do that without the product changing.
“When the Merchant Venturers thing came up, it would have been hypocritical of us to continue selling it after supporting the Colston Four.”
One regular customer, Phil, who has been drinking at the pub for 10 years, doesn’t think that any of the people kicking off on social media are regular customers.
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'Outdated attitudes'
Phil said: “I’m absolutely fine about them not selling Thatchers, I think it’s a good idea, there’s plenty of other drinks that are made by people without these outdated attitudes, with better tasting products as well.
“There’s loads of beers and ciders to choose from, you might as well choose ones that you like and are made by companies that share your values.
“I think most of [the people commenting on social media] have never been here and if they really want to drink Thatchers there are plenty of places that do sell it, it’s their choice as it is our choice.
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“Lots of people people think that the Merchant Venturers are outdated, it’s not some far out view.
“The local MP, Thangham Debbonaire has called for them to be disbanded, they’re undemocratic and they try to use their wealth to influence politics in the city.”
It has been confirmed that two other pubs in Easton, The Plough Inn and The Chelsea, have also made the ethical decision to stop serving Thatchers.
The Red Lion will still be selling Thatchers Gold and Katy until stocks run out.
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Thatchers' response
In an interview with the Drinks Business last week, Martin Thatcher said he uses his role at the Society to "improve people’s lives in communities across the city of Bristol and to drive change for today".
He added: "During the time I have been a member, I have been able to contribute to the valuable, community work that members of the Merchant Venturers do with organisations across Bristol, from care homes to education establishments.
"As a relative newcomer to the society, I hope I’ve been able to bring a fresh perspective to thinking, in particular as to how the SMV needs to acknowledge what has happened in the past, yet continue to do its fantastic work for people across all Bristol communities in a way fitting and relevant for our lives today."
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Last month when it faced fresh calls to disband, Master of the Merchant Venturers (SMV) David Freed said: “Today’s SMV is not the SMV of the 1800s and we will continue to confront any parts of the organisation’s legacy that do not reflect our values.
"Working with others, we remain determined to help ensure that Bristol becomes an inclusive city where there are no barriers to equality."
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