A mother and son have been banned from a Liverpool pub quiz after using offensive team names that referenced Madeleine McCann and Prince Andrew.
John Cullen, 30, a civil servant, and his mother Valerie, 73, a retired secretary, were barred from participating in the weekly quiz at Lanigan’s Irish Bar on Ranelagh Street.
The pair initially believed they were banned for winning too frequently, having claimed victory in four out of seven quizzes they attended.
However, the venue later clarified that their controversial team names, which appeared on screens and were announced over the house system, had prompted complaints from other customers.
John and Valerie had been regular attendees at the Monday night quiz since September, participating in weekly events organised by Sphinx UK.
John told the Liverpool Echo they were never informed that their team names were the issue, stating they would have “happily” changed them if asked.
Lanigan’s Irish Bar on Ranelagh Street
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“I can see how people could find it offensive, but we aren’t the first team to use these names in jest in quizzes,” he said.
“We are regular quizzers who compete every week for fun. I find it outrageous and ridiculous that anyone would attempt to limit or stop someone from winning a quiz when the aim itself is to try to win.”
Andrew Carey, from Lanigan’s, explained the issue to the Liverpool Echo: “John and his mother, Valerie are two very smart individuals, the problem being that every time they won a round or were the fastest team to answer the question, their team’s name would appear on the big screen in our pub and be announced over the house system by the host.”
“In the end, with the number of complaints raised, we chose to ask the mother and son couple to leave the venue as they were causing offence,” he added.
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(Stock) The mum and son used team names that referenced Madeleine McCann and Prince Andrew
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The venue manager emphasised: “We have the right to admission in our own venue, and we will not tolerate such behaviour.”
Other quiz participants have also claimed they were banned from the venue for winning too frequently.
Liam Canning, a 31-year-old academic editor, said his team “International Frustration” was barred after winning twice.
“We were told we weren’t allowed to play at all because of our high-win rate,” he told the Echo. “We were banned because they said it was ‘unfair to the students in the quiz’.”
Couple at a pub quiz
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Another participant, competing solo as “Here For The Beer”, claims he was asked not to return after winning twice consecutively in five visits.
However, Andrew Carey denied these claims, stating: “As far as management are aware they are the only team to be asked to leave the venue to date.”
Quiz operator Sphinx UK distanced itself from the decision, telling the Echo: “The decision to remove John and Val from the event on Monday was solely down to the venue management team.”
The company added: “At Sphinx, we pride ourselves on running events which are engaging for everyone regardless of ability. John and Val always have been – and continue to be – welcome at our events.”
When questioned about other teams’ claims of being banned, Sphinx responded: “Any decision to remove people from Lanigan’s will have been made by the venue management team. Sphinx welcomes all players of any ability to play our events.”