A pub in Abingdon has closed for a controversial name change and refurbishment.

The Midget pub off Preston Road in the town is to get a six-figure investment from its owners Greene King with work starting later this month.

Its name - linked with the town's former MG car factory - will be changed to The Roaring Raindrop - an MG car designed to tackle the land speed record in the 1950s.

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The pub has now closed for the refurbishment to get under way.

Earlier this year, more than 500 people signed an online petition calling for the name of the pub to be changed as it was deemed to be offensive by critics. 

Petition organiser Dr Erin Pritchard said pub owner Greene King should "recognise the offence of the term and its implications".

The pub company agreed to the proposal, and the pub's name is now due to be changed.

But the decision has not been well received by everyone in the community - two online petitions have been launched calling for the pub's name to remain the same and one of them has now attracted 4,729 signatures.

Joe Lawlor's petition says: "Greene King is trying to change the local pub of Abingdon The Midget to The Roaring Rain Drop.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) "I’m sure a lot of people will disagree with this decision and in my opinion. I think it is ridiculous. The naming is part of Abingdon's history.

"Please help and support this petition. Sign and share to all your friends and family. Thank you."

Nigel Stead, who also launched a petition, said: "The petitions to save the pub name, The Midget now stand at over 5,000 signatures as opposed to the 1,300 that Dr Pritchard achieved. This goes to show that the name The Midget must stay."

(Image: Andy Ffrench) The pub, which opened in 1974, was originally called The Magic Midget - the nickname of the MG EX 127 that broke the world land speed record of 120mph in 1932.

But in 2002 the hostelry was renamed The Midget, as a reference to the wider range of Midget models produced by MG.

The Roaring Raindrop was driven by Sir Stirling Moss in 1957 when he set a land speed record of 245.6mph over a distance of 1km at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

It subsequently set a new record of 254.9mph in 1959 driven by American Phil Hill.

There will be a complete refurbishment inside and outside the pub.

Zoe Bowley, managing director of Greene King pubs, said earlier: “I’m delighted that we’re investing such a significant sum in bringing a new lease of life to this true community pub in its 50th year.

“Pubs are at the heart of communities and are all about bringing people together. I would like to thank the MG Car Club for welcoming us into their headquarters in Abingdon to explain the history of both cars and their importance to the area.

"We hope that making the change in this way helps to preserve our pub’s historic links to Abingdon’s past while simultaneously ensuring our pub can be a place where everyone feels welcome.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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