The White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex has closed its doors a month after its collection of golliwog dolls, known to be racist caricatures, were seized by the police following a complaint of a hate crime. Bernice Ryley, the landlady of the pub, expressed her disappointment and said that she did not understand the hate she received. Both Carlsberg and Heineken advised Ryley to stop selling their beers while the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) removed the pub from its future consideration for awards and inclusion in its annual Good Pub Guide. Ryley denies being racist and stated that young people do not understand the history of these dolls, as some of her collection were antiques. The pub was also vandalized after the seizure of the dolls. The leaseholders, Ryley and her husband, have run the White Hart Inn for 17 years and plan to retire after the closure. An Essex police spokesperson said that the investigation is ongoing, and no one has been charged.
