Shinfield's The Black Boy Pub allows locals to vote for new name

The 500-year-old pub, The Black Boy, is set to be renamed due to 'racist connotations' associated with the current name.

The Shinfield Road, is owned by pub company Greene King, who announced last month that they would be holding votes to rename four pubs for the same reason.

READ MORE: Pub to be renamed due to 'racist connotations' - and punters are asked to VOTE on choices

The retailer has now published three potential names which have been shortlisted for people to choose from, including:

PICTURED: The Black Boy, Shinfield

• The Shinfield Arms

Explaining this choice, The Greene King website says it is: "a name that calls out the pub’s location at the heart of a historic village, as the team look forward to reopening the pub’s doors after current restrictions are lifted so they can continue its proud tradition of warmly welcoming people from the village and beyond."

• The King's Rest

The site says: "King Charles I is reported to have stayed in Shinfield when seeking to relieve The Siege of Reading during the English Civil War, and is reported to have stayed at a house close to where the pub is located today.

"Renaming the pub The King’s Rest would be a nod to this piece of history where the village was a resting place for the king."

• The Merry Monarch

According to the site, "some historians say that the pub name ‘Black Boy’ is a reference to King Charles II and was a name given to pubs and taverns by his supporters during the English Civil War.

"The ‘Merry Monarch’ is another nickname that was given to King Charles II and so this name would reinforce the link to King Charles II."

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PICTURED: Pub stock image

People can cast their vote here.

The vote will close at 11.50pm on Wednesday, February 10, and the winning name will be announced shortly afterwards.