People upset by Stoke-on-Trent bar’s name are ‘snowflakes’

A bar has defended its new name after it was branded “disgusting” by people on social media.

Bloom, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, recently changed to The Strangled Cat as part of a refurbishment. But people on Facebook accused the bar of promoting animal abuse and isolating cat or animal lovers.

Responding to the criticism, Ryan Fanthorpe, director of Breakthrough Bars, which owns the venue, said the name was not offensive and that it was a reference to karaoke.

He thought people were being too sensitive over the name, describing them as being part of the “snowflake era”.

“That isn’t necessarily the sort of people I would have thought would be commenting,” he added.

The Strangled Cat came about after Breakthrough Bars felt the concept of Bloom was not working in the town centre.

Mr Fanthorpe said: “There is an element of edge down there, so we wanted to create something that wasn’t just about drinking.”

But people said the name promoted animal abuse and called for the bar to change it.

One commenter said: “Disgusting name. You’ve automatically isolated all cat and animal lovers.”

Another said: “What an awful name for a business. I wouldn’t visit for that very reason! Given the amount of animal abuse in this country, you could have thought of a better name, surely.”

Others jumped to the bar’s defence and said: “Brilliant name. Will suit all the bad singers they have going on.”

Mr Fanthorpe defended the name and said: “I don’t think the strangled cat is offensive when you combine it with the karaoke.”

He said it was “just an old wives saying” and that people used the phrase to describe bad karaoke singers.