The naming of a pub on the site of the Cardiff City Stadium has branded “crazy” and “disappointing” by City fans.
Marston’s Inns and Taverns, the owners of the new pub which is due to open in the spring, have decided to name it The Sand Martin.
And the decision has left City fans scratching their heads as to the connection between the diminutive bird and the club.
James Leighton, author of Fred Keenor: the man who never gave up about the Cardiff cup winning captain said: “It’s a crazy decision. They could have picked anything to do with Cardiff City FC.”
James Corp, a barman and City season ticket holder for 10 years said: “It’s not a great name is it? A pub’s name is meant to reflect and be a part of the community it’s in. I think it should have been called the Fred Keenor or the John Charles.”
While Chris Bond, an electrical engineer from Canton said: “Well nothing says Cardiff quite like a sand martin does it.”
Phil Nifield of the Cardiff City Supporters trust said of the decision: “I am disappointed but not wholly surprised. We don’t think the name proposed is appropriate for the location and felt The Fred Keenor or, indeed, The Bluebird would have been excellent choices.’
Explaining the name a Marston’s spokesman said: “our practice is always to choose a non-partisan name for our outlets. In recent years we have chosen various combinations of birds, insects, animals etc. Hence in other food led outlets we have in South Wales, there is the Otter at Newbridge, the Willow Tree, Brynmawr, the Dragonfly, Merthyr Tydfil and the Bumble Bee at Blackwood etc. All are hugely popular and the generality of their names has not attracted any adverse comments.
We have already been lobbied to name our pub variously, The Leckwith, The Gareth Edwards or after one of a plethora of worthy Welsh rugby legends. So as not to offend any one organisation, we always choose not to align ourselves to a specific group or individual, no matter how noble or revered the cause.
For the purposes of absolute clarity, our pub restaurant is not a sports bar or a sports TV-led outlet. It is fundamentally, a family dining outlet where food will account for up to 70 per cent of the turnover. Indeed, on match day we will be at the mercy of the local constabulary as to whether alcohol can be sold at all, without a substantial meal, during specified hours.
Although, we appreciate that some may question the precise relevance of a ‘Sand Martin’ to this particular location, in reality, it is no more perplexing than would be a ‘Red Lion’, a ‘Flying Horse’ or one of many other wonderful and imaginative names that have become attached to public houses over the years. Accordingly, we aim to appeal to as broad a church of patrons as possible, by attempting not to cause offence or disrespect to any.”
Do you have a view on the name? Send us your thoughts at thisiscanton@yahoo.co.uk
This is Canton 