Pub Bosses Take On BNP

THE NEW owners of a Maryport pub are preparing to take on the BNP.Andrew McLoughlin, who, with his brother Jonathan, bought the Bounty Inn a couple of months ago, is furious that the party’s election propaganda showed Ellenborough candidate Martin Wingfield standing outside it.

Although the name is partially obscured by Mr Wingfield’s head, Mr McLoughlin said the Bounty is a landmark building and nobody local could fail to recognise it.He is very angry because he has had people commenting on the pamphlet.“Nobody has yet suggested we have anything to do with the BNP but they have mentioned the pamphlet. And I wonder if there are people who have been put off coming into the place because we are featured on a BNP campaign leaflet,” he said.

Mr McLoughlin said neither he nor his brother have any affiliations with the BNP and nor do they want any.He said he would never allow his pub, on Victory Crescent, to be used in political campaigning nor would he ever welcome the BNP onto the premises. “Although I would not mind if it was the Monster Raving Looney Party,” Mr McLoughlin laughed.

He added: “We are demanding a public apology and an acknowledgement that neither we nor the pub’s former owners authorised these pictures.“It is not entirely clear whether the photo was taken from the street or from our car park. If Mr Wingfield was standing in our car park when the photo was taken we might have some legal rights.”

But the BNP claimed the Bounty may actually benefit from its association with the party.

The party’s West Cumbria spokesman Clive Jefferson said more than 600 townsfolk voted for the party. “If they decide they will pop into the Bounty because they saw it on a campaign leaflet, Mr McLoughlin will gain,” he said.BNP candidates had been told to have photos taken in local locations and the Bounty was regarded as a landmark.

He said there was no intention to offend but added that Mr McLoughlin had no evidence that his business had been damaged.

He said: “Nor did we break the law. When I last looked this country was still, just, a democracy and we are allowed to take photographs.”He said he would pop into the Bounty “and have a drink with Mr McLoughlin”.

Andrew, 30 and his brother Jonathan, 40, are originally from Egremont. Jonathan works as a planner on the London Underground and is a silent partner in the business.Andrew was manager of the Crown Inn at Blencow, near Penrith, before coming to Maryport. He has previously managed the Ship Launch in Egremont and worked at Sellafield. Andrew, who lives above the pub, said he would eventually like to extend the pub. He has introduced some new beers and the bar is being updated.

As well as his brother, Andrew also has plenty of help and advice from previous owners, Barry Hodgson and Sid Robinson. “Barry lives next door and is always there if I need him. Sid lives three houses down and pops in every night so I have people I can turn to if I need to,” he said.

Story from Times and Star published Friday 18th May 2007.