Scratchings under attack

Traditional Black Country pork scratchings are being shunned by trendy bars and clubs in favour of upmarket nibbles.

Once a must on any pub's snack list, the pork scratching is becoming a rarer delicacy in the West Midlands.

Many of the new-look lounge bars replacing traditional boozers, are choosing not to sell pork scratchings, preferring snacks like low fat crisps, olives and salads instead. Black Country historian Carl Chinn MBE, today called it a "massive assault" on the region's culture.

He and others are now calling for a show of support for the scratching.

Mr Chinn said: "The problem with these big new plush pubs is that they stop playing dominoes and darts and they stop selling mild and they stop selling pork scratchings and this for me is massive assault on our culture."

Stourbridge Town Centre has seen an explosion in new bars over the past couple of years replacing old pubs. But hardly any of them sell pork scratchings.

The Edward Rutland Bar, Chicagos and The Talbot Hotel, High Street, Stourbridge, all are among those who don't sell the Black Country snack. Drinkers will also be hard pushed to find a pack of scratchings to enjoy with their pint in the bars along Brierley Hill's trendy Waterfront.

Even luxury Dudley hotel The Village was not too posh for pork scratchings, until it was recently withdrawn from the snacks list.

Wayne Etheridge, who runs the The Cross Sports Bar and The Royal Oak in Stourbridge, said traditional pork scratchings were considered too fatty by many. He said: "I think people are probably more conscious of their health and so we get our scratchings from a local butcher who does organic scratchings."

Graham Simmons, director of G Simmons and Sons Ltd in Walsall, has been producing pork scratchings for 30-years. He said: "I certainly think it is important for pubs, bars and clubs to support the pork scratching because it is a part of the Midlands."