Threat to 'firebomb' Edinburgh Castle cafe being investigated

Complaints were made earlier this week in regards to the name of the Redcoat Cafe.

Threat to ‘firebomb’ Edinburgh Castle Redcoat Cafe being investigated by police after online controversy — Investigation: Enquiries into the threat are ongoing. iStock

16th Feb 2024

Posted in

City of Edinburgh

Police are investigating after threats were made online to “firebomb” a newly refurbished cafe at Edinburgh Castle.

Complaints were made earlier this week in regards to the name of the Redcoat Cafe, despite it having been called that for more than three decades.

The backlash came after Edinburgh Castle announced the reopening of the newly refurbished coffee shop on Saturday.

Police Scotland confirmed that a complaint was received after a threat to “firebomb” the cafe was made online.

Enquiries into complaints are ongoing.

A petition to rename the cafe has garnered almost 5,000 signatures from “concerned citizens and patrons of this historic landmark” who claimed that the cafe’s name was “deeply offensive to the Scottish people and perpetuates a painful legacy associated with the oppression of our nation”.

Following the response, a spokesperson for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has confirmed that the names of the Redcoat Cafe and the Jacobite function room are under review.

“We are aware of the comments on social media on both sides of the debate about the name of the cafe at Edinburgh Castle,” it said.

“The name has been in place since 1992 and reflects the military history which is told throughout the Castle, however the way we interpret history is constantly evolving.

“As part of our future plans for Edinburgh Castle, the names of both the Redcoat Café and Jacobite function room will now be reviewed.”