Edinburgh Castle reviews name of its ‘offensive’ Redcoat Cafe
EDINBURGH CASTLE is to review the name of a café named after British redcoat soldiers after nationalists claimed it was offensive to Scots.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which runs the castle, said it was open to renaming its Redcoat Café after 32 years, following attacks from hundreds of independence supporters, including SNP politicians.
An online petition, which has attracted more than 1,000 signatures since Sunday, said the name celebrated an “occupying force” and “perpetuates a painful legacy associated with the oppression of our nation”.
Those criticising the name pointed to the British Army’s role in the Highland Clearances and the Battle of Culloden.
HES said it was reviewing the name, as well as that of its Jacobite function room, after the backlash as “the way we interpret history is constantly evolving”. The furore began on social media after the castle advertised that its Redcoat Café had reopened following a refurbishment, and invited people to “pop in for a warm beverage or even a tasty slice of cake”.
Douglas Chapman, the SNP MP, and Kevin Stewart, a nationalist MSP and former Scottish Government minister, were among those to express their displeasure at the name.
Mr Chapman, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said: “I don’t think many will be ‘popping in’ for anything. How about a swift rebrand? Redcoat, really?” Mr Stewart, an Aberdeen MSP and former transport minister, added: “This can’t be for real, surely? If so, this is a huge misjudgment.”
Sir Tom Devine, professor emeritus of Scottish history at the University of Edinburgh, dismissed the argument that the name was offensive as nonsense, as Scots had played a major role in the Army since the 18th century.
“The view that the name of the café is offensive to Scots is simply ludicrous and reflects historical illiteracy,” said Sir Tom, widely seen as Scotland’s leading historian. “Scottish officers, soldiers and kilted Highland regiments have had a high profile in the British Army from the Seven Years’ War, especially during the famous battles for Empire, and like the rest of the infantry wore red or scarlet tunics until the later 19th century.
“See, for example, the famous painting of the Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb of the 93rd Highlanders confronting Russian cavalry at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War.”
He added: “Critics are probably fixated about the Jacobite period when the Highland clans fought English Redcoats but that is only one part of a long story.”
A spokesman for HES said: “We are aware of the comments on social media on both sides of the debate about the name of the café at Edinburgh Castle.
“The name has been in place since 1992 and reflects the military history which is told throughout the castle. However, the way we interpret history is constantly evolving.
“As part of our future plans for Edinburgh Castle, the names of both the Redcoat Café and Jacobite function room will now be reviewed.”