Animal rights group Peta has demanded that Britain's oldest pub changes its name to show compassion for animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says that Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans should update its name to Ye Olde
Clever Cocks to reflect a change in society's attitudes. Since it was founded in the eighth century, the pub in Abbey Mill Lane has had many names, but since 1872 it has been called Ye Olde Fighting Cocks because of its history of cockfighting - a
sport banned in the UK in the 1800s. Peta director Mimi Bekhechi said: Changing the name would reflect today's rejection of needless violence and help celebrate chickens as the intelligent, sensitive and social
animals they are. Today, kind people are appalled by the thought of forcing birds to fight to the death and more people than ever are making the compassionate choice not to eat chickens, either.
Hundreds have
taken to social media to express their outrage at the idea. Alasdair Melville who used to work at the pub said: Rather than worrying about the name of a pub, I think Peta should worry about looking after chickens at
chicken farms for example.
Another local added: I do not associate the name with cock fighting, I associate with the history.
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