Nottingham's Old Angel Inn cancels 'bag a slag' event Published duration 6 February 2014

image copyright Old Angel image caption The poster was designed by the pub to promote its speed dating event

A pub has been forced to cancel its alternative speed dating event this Valentine's Day after its poster was branded inappropriate.

The Old Angel Inn in Nottingham used a poster with the slogan "bag a slag, grab a hag" to promote its event.

It has caused controversy after several people complained about the content.

The city council's licensing department said the landlord had breached a part of the pub's licence which states it must not use inappropriate promotions.

Ruth Greenburg, from the Nottingham Feminist Action Network, said the use of the word slag was offensive and derogatory to women.

"This is beyond the fun barrier. It is a very negative, sexist image of women," she added.

"Is that all women are - slags and hags?

"What self-respecting woman is going to go along to a speed dating event that sells itself to men in that way?"

'Empowering' women

As part of the promotion women attending the event were also being offered free shots.

In a statement the pub said its regular customers for whom the event was intended would have understood the "spirit of the flyer" and "viewed it in good humour".

Poster designer and barmaid at the pub, Lydia Hunt said she felt the word was "empowering" to women.

"The Old Angel is seen as an alternative pub so we were trying to throw the gauntlet down and say to single women don't stay indoors and cower away this Valentine's Day, come to our event.

image caption Barmaid Lydia Hunt said the poster was not intended to cause offence

"It was just to have a laugh and grab attention. I'm not saying women are either slags or hags, but I think it is an empowerment thing."

She said the free shots were to encourage women to attend as research showed speed dating was more popular with men.

A spokesman for Nottingham City Council's licensing department they had investigated after receiving complaints about the poster.