Croydon pub in 'Nazi salute' row days before Holocaust memorial

Croydon Advertiser | Friday, 3 February 2012 | Click here for original article

Lloyds bar in Croydon posted this picture on its official Facebook page

A TOWN centre bar has been caught up in a race-hate row after a photograph showing revellers apparently giving the Nazi salute appeared on its Facebook page.

The image from Lloyds No.1 Bar (The Milan Bar) was uploaded to its promotional Facebook profile and is emblazoned with both the bar and Wetherspoon's company logos.

It was taken over the weekend of January 20 and 21 by the bar's freelance photographer.

He posted it on the site just two days before Holocaust Memorial Day, which commemorates the estimated 11 million victims of Nazi-organised atrocities during World War Two.

Victims are remembered on January 27 each year.

Councillor Vidhi Mohan, Croydon's cabinet member for communities, said the timing of the photograph made it "particularly upsetting".

"This sort of behaviour is abhorrent at the best of times," he told the Advertiser.

"But it is particularly upsetting and distasteful when people's minds are focused on the events of the Holocaust."

Those pictured have not been identified but the photographer responsible for the image has been sacked.

Wetherspoon's has said that it will now no longer be organising a photographer to take photos in the bar.

The image has subsequently been taken down from the official page after the Advertiser informed Lloyds, but not before it had attracted several supportive comments and a number of 'likes' – by which Facebook users show their approval for a picture.

Other users, however, expressed surprise it had been uploaded on to the bar's web page.

Wetherspoon's spokesman Eddie Gershon admitted mistakes had been made.

He said: "We thank the Croydon Advertiser for bringing this to our attention.

"We can confirm that the photo was uploaded by a freelance photographer who takes photos in the bar on Friday and Saturday night.

"We do not believe that there was any malice in his actions, but we believe he should have realised the photo was offensive and had no place on the site."

Mr Gershon added: "Wetherspoon has now decided to stop using his services or indeed organising a photographer to take photos in the bar at any time.

"We have also reiterated to our staff at The Milan Bar that they must continually monitor the Facebook page to ensure nothing like this happens again."