Pub Receives Backlash After Re-Naming Ploughman’s Lunch To ‘Ploughperson’s’

A pub has received backlash after re-naming their Ploughman’s Lunch to a ‘Ploughperson’s’. 

The Devonshire-based venue was accused of being ‘woke’ after they renamed their classic dish to reflect the many women farmers in the area.

The landlord of The Tors Inn in Belstone, Dicky Harrison, described their tribute to the agriculturists as “a bit of fun” on their Facebook page, prior to being on the firing line on social media.

One user wrote: “How f**king pathetic to rename the Ploughmans lunch a Ploughperson? I would suggest this pub is boycotted until they get a life & start acting like adults - it's a PLOUGHMAN'S.”

Another added: “Sorry guys, won’t be visiting a ‘woke’ pub for my lunch. Yes, there are lots of women farmers today and I salute them, but stop changing the past.”

“It’s like saying we can’t call the moon the moon anymore”, wrote a different user. 

“Soon Mother’s Day & Father’s Day will be forbidden,” another warned.

Harrison previously told The Guardian that the decision to re-name the plate was “a nod to the ladies” who work on the nearby land.

“It was a bit of fun. We’re on Dartmoor and have lots of friends who are farmers - ladies as well as men - who all work the land. It was a nod to the ladies, without being too political. It wasn’t done to cause offence, but women plough too.

Following the backlash, the pub owner is unsure whether to revert the ‘Ploughperson’s’ lunch back to its original name.

“I’m not really sure what to do now, to be honest - whether to change it or not. It just seemed the right thing to do at the time.”

The pub has since addressed the situation on its Facebook page, writing: “It ain’t woke, it's just a joke.

“Two years ago we put the Ploughpersons on the menu as a lighthearted gesture and nod to our local farming community of men & women.”

They added: “We never intended to cause offence.”

“That said, the torrent of abuse, offensive messages, negative reviews, tweets and emails we have received is completely disproportionate.

“This was never intended to be a political statement or a publicity stunt.”

“Given the strength of feeling and that our original intention was lighthearted, we are more than happy to change the name back to Ploughman’s,” they continued.

“We simply don’t feel that strongly about it - It was just a bit of fun and a bit of Cheese.”