Pub owners who serve foie gras targeted by animal rights abuse

THE owners of a village pub have been compared with terrorists and bombarded with one-star reviews after animal rights activists discovered foie gras on the menu.

David and Samantha McHattie, who run The Bridge Inn in Calver, in the Peak District, have endured a barrage of insults and seen their business page filled with more than 190 scathing reports by visitors from all over the world.

They were told by some protesters that the negative reviews would be deleted only if the dish was dropped.

Customers who left positive reviews or disagreed with objectors were also targeted with abusive messages.

“They are just trying to bully us and our customers,” said Mrs McHattie, 35. “Activists have stolen photos of the children of those defending us and posted them on activist websites. One activist compared me to the terrorist in the recent London attack, while another said any parent who feeds their child meat is as abusive as a parent who gives their child a cigarette. The majority have never even been to the village, let alone the pub.

“I am all for democracy and campaigning for what you believe in, but there is a certain way to go about it. All they are trying to do is blackmail us and expect us to roll over. We are doing nothing wrong. Foie gras is perfectly legal and we have plenty of customers who enjoy it.”

The controversial delicacy is made from the liver of a specially fattened duck or goose.

The furore began after one customer praised the pub’s food on Facebook but added that she would not be back after she found foie gras on the menu.

Pubs in Durham and Nottingham have also faced the same threat and were persuaded to abandon the dish when they received dozens of one-star reviews.

Mr McHattie, 51, said: “They have to realise that this type of behaviour is not acceptable. No matter how passionately they hold their beliefs, there is a way of educating and engaging people, and this isn’t it.”

‘We are doing nothing wrong. Foie gras is perfectly legal and we have plenty of customers who enjoy it’