Essex pub that displayed golly toys is put up for sale
An Essex pub that became infamous when its owners stood firm on displaying controversial golly dolls has gone on sale for more than half a million pounds.
The White Hart Inn in Grays, which doubles as a bar and a hotel, closed in May when its owners fled to retire in Turkey.
Essex Police had visited in April after a complaint and confiscated 15 golly toys, which had been donated to the pub’s owners.
While the toy type had once been popular in the UK, it has now been widely regarded as a racist caricature of Black people. They are not illegal to own but complainants felt that the public display of so many toys was aggravating.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced there would be no further action against the landlords after police investigated allegations of a hate crime.
Co-leaseholder Benrice Ryley said she felt ‘totally and utterly gutted’ and blamed ‘young people these days’ for ‘not understanding where the gollies originated from’ and ‘ruining her life’.
It was reported on Thursday that she and husband Chris have now put the pub up for sale, having run it for around 10 years.
Savills has listed a £575,000 asking price for the White Hart Inn which is a grade II listed property.
The estate agency said the inn offered eight single rooms, three bathrooms and communal kitchens. There is also a beer garden and parking space for 12 vehicles.
The pub will, however, come with an unfortunate legacy after the controversy led the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to remove it from their good beer guide and pub of the year awards.
The couple posed for pictures with the dolls and did not take them off show until police came. Officers were seen on CCTV footage to be putting the toys into evidence bags.
Ms Ryley told Thurrock News: ‘I had them when I was a child and it just started from there.
‘If people think that a golly doll looks like them, they’re the ones who have a problem and they’re the ones who are racist. I’m not, I’m far from it.’
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