Culture

There’s A New Restaurant In Brisbane Celebrating The Glory Days Of British Colonialism

People aren't too happy with a restaurant themed around an empire that committed mass atrocities.

by Osman Faruqi  19 September 2016

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Australians who miss the grand old days of the British Empire have had it tough lately. Ever since arch-monarchist Tony Abbott was swept off the political stage, there’s been a lack of people and institutions willing to glorify the violent invasion and subjugation of millions of people around the world at the hands of the British Empire. But no more! A new Brisbane restaurant, inspired by “the stylish days of the empirical push into the developing cultures of the world” is promising to bring all that was great about Britannia back.

The restaurant is called “British Colonial Co.” (just to really ram home how much they love the empire) and offers up “flavours from countries that were once a part of the empire”. Do you enjoy cuisine from a country that was once invaded, plundered and colonised by the British? Chances are you’ll be able to order it at British Colonial Co.. According to reviews, it offers a “slightly exotic feel” complete with “plantation fans” (we aren’t sure if “plantation” is a reference to the wood, or to actual plantations worked by slaves that were a cornerstone of the British Empire).

Unsurprisingly, a lot of people aren’t too happy with a restaurant themed around an empire that committed mass atrocities.

Other stories have referred to the fact that the restaurant is “inspired by the British Empire during the era of colonisation” without much self-awareness, though the cited article did point out the restaurant should “tread carefully”: “Plenty of places take their cues from history, but Britain’s colonisation efforts aren’t something that everyone wants to celebrate”.

But look, we understand. British food is awful. The standard cooking routine for the Brits throughout most of history seemed to be slaughtering an animal, burning it on an open fire and then eating it without any kind of seasoning.

It’s understandable that when faced with just dire cuisine the British felt compelled to travel far and wide, sampling the delights of India, Africa and the Middle-East. But couldn’t they have just eaten some dhal instead of killing millions of people?

Update: Junkee has received the following statement from British Colonial Co.:

“We are very proud of our brand, dining experience and the loyal clientele we have established since opening in July this year.

British Colonial Co was founded on the principles of providing Brisbane foodies with relaxed, casual dining. We believe that our décor and menu has great synergy with Brisbane’s climate and the expansive palette of our clientele, who are looking for a melting pot of food and beverages to enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere.

We are therefore upset and saddened by today’s media reports that our brand is causing offence and distress to some members of the community. This certainly was not our intention.

 As a small local business, we strive to be the best we can, and we are committed to improving our service wherever possible.”