PICTURES have revealed what the Black Boy pub in Shinfield will look like once its renamed after being linked to ‘racism’.

In January this year, the owners Greene King decided to rename the Black Boy because of its supposed ‘racist connotations.’

A public vote was held on the renaming via SurveyMonkey, and the result prompted Greene King to rename the pub the Shinfield Arms.

However, a Reading Chronicle poll taken in the same month showed that 80 per cent of voters thought the name should be retained.

READ MORE: Shinfield Black Boy pub applies for name change over 'racist connotations'

Now, the pub firm has had to apply to obtain advertisement consent from Wokingham Borough Council.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has received designs of what the rebrand will look like once completed.

Bracknell News:

Pictures show plans to repaint the facade and side of the pub, and replace its two roadside signs with the new name.

Members of the public can find more details of the designs by typing in planning application number 211271 on the Wokingham Borough Council planning portal. A public consultation on the plan will end on Saturday, May 15.

The pub in Shinfield is owned by pub retailer Greene King and run by the Surrey-based Barons Pub Company which runs 10 pubs.

The designs for the Shinfield Arms have been drawn up by Ashleigh Signs.

The new name won out in the vote against alternative names ‘The King’s Rest’ and ‘The Merry Monarch’.

Barons Pub Company attempted to change the pub’s name in 2017 in consultation with Greene King, but chose not to do so after a backlash on Facebook.

What the Shinfield Arms, currently called the Black Boy pub, will look like if changes are approved. Credit: Greene King / Ashleigh Signs

Bracknell News:

It has been argued that the ‘Black Boy’ name may refer to King Charles II, who was called a ‘black boy’ by his mother, Henrietta Maria of France. He was also known as the ‘Merry Monarch’ for his lively character and the supposed hedonism of his court.

It is also thought to refer to a black horse, or child chimney sweeps whose faces got turned ‘black’ with soot.

There has even been a suggestion that the ‘Black boy’ could refer to a practice of highwaymen from Windsor Great Park painting their faces black to avoid detection. This led to the passage of the Black Act in 1723, which introduced the death penalty for 250 offences, including being caught disguised in a forest while carrying a weapon.