It was meant to be a tour of local eateries, designed to introduce new students to the much-loved chicken shops of south London.

But organisers of Goldsmiths, University of London’s “Chicken Run” event, which was part of the freshers’ week entertainment programme, have been accused of racism and “exotifying local culture”.

Student Che Scott-Heron Newton, the daughter of late American jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron, led the criticism, calling the chicken shop tour a “gross exotification of local working-class culture”.

“My main point is that I felt that a poorer area of London’s culture was being mocked by this tour,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

She said that she had complained to university staff about the event. In a letter to her lecturer, she wrote: “Today I became aware that the student union is offering 'chicken shop tours' and I can honestly say that this is one of the most pretentious messes that I have ever seen in my entire life.

“I am beyond disgusted and appalled that the student union would think [this is] appropriate.”