Originally Posted by Stuart

Well, seeing as the only article I can find online that "backs up" what Arthur says, I'll comment on that.

Yes, Mecca Bingo has been around since the 60s, but Mecca, the city, has been around since either (depending on who you beleive) 2000BC or 5AD (we are currently in 2010AD). As such, it has existed for anywhere between 2,005 and 4,005 years.

There is little evidence it was called "Mecca" before 5AD, but whichever is true, it has been around a little longer than Mecca Bingo.

Now, in that article, the company changed the name. That's their choice.

It's also worth remembering that until a few weeks before the protest, the bingo hall was actually called "Top Rank", and was only renamed "Mecca" as Rank decided to bring all their bingo halls under one brand. As such, any attempt to rename it "Mecca" *could* be legitimately seen as an insult to Muslims, many of whom were probably born in the area.

I would say the same if Boots renamed a shop selling Condoms in a largely Catholic area as "Vatican".