{"id":699710,"date":"2026-01-16T10:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T10:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/699710\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T10:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T10:55:09","slug":"scottish-government-responds-to-offensive-edinburgh-castle-cafe-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/699710\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish Government responds to ‘offensive’ Edinburgh Castle cafe name"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n The Redcoat Cafe has been at the centre of fierce criticism<\/a> from campaigners, politicians and historians since it reopened in February 2024 after a refurbishment.\n<\/p>\n

\n Its name comes from the red-uniformed British troops who fought against the Jacobites in Scotland, against US succession in North America, and were involved in colonisation across the globe.\n<\/p>\n

\n Despite the cafe having had the name since 1992, campaigners are calling for it to be rebranded, calling it an \u201cinsult and an abomination\u201d to Scotland\u2019s history due to the thousands of Highlanders who were killed by red-uniformed British troops.\n<\/p>\n

\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Peter Mullan ‘headbutted’ after stopping domestic abuser outside Glasgow venue<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n Following the backlash, Historic Environment<\/a> Scotland (HES), who look after and run Edinburgh Castle, responded to the outcry pledging to review the cafe\u2019s name as well as the name of its Jacobite function room in the \u201ccoming financial year\u201d of 2025\/2026.\n<\/p>\n

\n However, The National revealed in December that HES has indefinitely delayed the review<\/a> \u2013 despite having vowed to complete the work by April 2026.\n<\/p>\n

\n Responding to a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Angus Robertson, by campaigners the Scottish Government said that ministers are \u201caware\u201d of the ongoing discussion regarding the cafe\u2019s name and are still waiting for the review.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n The letter, seen by The National, read: \u201cEdinburgh Castle is one of our most iconic landmarks and represents a great deal to Scottish identity.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe day-to-day management of this Property<\/a> in Care is delegated by Scottish Ministers to Historic Environment Scotland (HES). This means that decisions about the management of Edinburgh Castle are operational matters for HES to take.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cPlease let me reassure you that Ministers are aware of the ongoing discussion regarding the caf\u00e9\u2019s name, which has been in place since 1992 and reflects the military history presented throughout the Castle. The names of the caf\u00e9 and the Jacobite function suite are still being considered as part of a wider strategic review of Edinburgh Castle.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cAs HES set out in its Operating Plan, there will be a high-level strategic plan for the Castle published in due course. This plan will take a long-term view of the site, and its implementation should see ongoing investment spread over a number of years. HES has advised that any changes to the catering offer, including names, would follow that work rather than precede it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Pensioner collapses on ‘Highland Polar Express’ as ScotRail issues apology<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n A HES spokesperson explained that the delay of the review was due to the castle’s toilet facilities being upgraded first, as well as work on \u201crefreshing the Crown Room and the display of the Honours of Scotland in the New Year\u201d.\n<\/p>\n

\n They added: \u201cThe review of the Redcoat Cafe and the Jacobite function suite names will not be complete by April 2026. As set out in our operating plan, we have committed to publishing a high-level strategic plan for Edinburgh Castle.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThis plan will take a long-term view of the site, and the names of the cafe and function suite will be considered as part of that process.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n Prominent campaigner Sean Clerkin, who was part of a protest at the castle\u2019s cafe this week<\/a> over the name, said he was \u201cashamed\u201d to see a Redcoat displayed in the building.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt made my blood boil with rage as my ancestors were driven out of the Highlands by these thugs in uniform,\u201d he added.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n Writing to HES, Clerkin said: \u201cWe demand that you change the name of the Redcoat Cafe at Edinburgh Castle immediately as it is an insult and an abomination to millions of Scots as the redcoat armies murdered thousands of Highland men, raped Highland women and burnt down the homes of thousands of Scots driving them out of their homes causing countless harm to our ancestors.\n<\/p>\n

\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Parking charges to be introduced at popular hillwalking spot following visitor surge<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe Redcoat hordes of the British or Greater English Army eradicated the Gaelic<\/a> Language, Highland Dress and Highland Customs attacking Scotland and its People and you celebrate this through the naming of this cafe with the name Redcoat Cafe.\n<\/p>\n

\n Adding: \u201cWe would suggest a simple change of name to the Castle Cafe would satisfy us but continued belief that you had thrown this issue into the long grass and quelled dissent has actually angered many in the Nationalist Community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Redcoat Cafe has been at the centre of fierce criticism from campaigners, politicians and historians since it…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":699711,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8816],"tags":[748,1102,4884,712,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-699710","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-edinburgh","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-edinburgh","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-scotland","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115904415176413425","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=699710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699710\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/699711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=699710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=699710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=699710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}