Animal rights activists call for name change for England's oldest pub, 'Ye Olde Fighting Cocks'

The animal rights group PETA has some advice for England's oldest pub. The organization recently wrote a letter to Saint Albans' Ye Olde Fighting Cock pub to suggest it should change its name to Ye Olde Clever Cocks. 

In a statement, PETA said it wanted to "remind people that chickens are intelligent, sensitive and social animals, in the hope that they will grant these birds the respect and kindness that they deserve."

Pub owner Christo Tofalli tells As It Happens host Carol Off he was gob-smacked when he heard about the request.

"If I was to say I was surprised, it would be an understatement," he says. "We are not going to change the pub's name...not on my watch." 

Tofalli says the name goes back hundreds of years, and says the pub did once play host to cock fights. Now, the pub just hosts visitors from around the world who fancy a pint on its sunny patio.

"It's not something that we celebrate. It's just part of history and it's part of this pub's history."

Tofalli had his own suggestion for the animal rights group: if they like the name 'clever cocks' so much, they should buy their own pub.