A bar owner has hit back at critics who branded his venue's new name "disgusting" and accused it of promoting animal abuse. The venue, formerly known as Bloom in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, has been renamed The Strangled Cat following a refurbishment.

But the change has triggered backlash on social media, with some users calling for it to be reversed. Critics have claimed the new name could be interpreted as offensive to animal lovers, with one person writing: "Disgusting name. You've automatically isolated all cat and animal lovers."

Another added: "What an awful name for a business. I wouldn't visit for that very reason!

“Given the amount of animal abuse in this country, you could have thought of a better name, surely."

However, Ryan Fanthorpe, director of Breakthrough Bars which owns the venue, defended the decision, arguing that people were overreacting.

"I don't think The Strangled Cat is offensive when you combine it with the karaoke," he told the BBC. "It's just an old wives' saying used to describe a bad singer."

He went on to claim that those complaining are being too sensitive and part of the “snowflake era”.

Fanthorpe explained that the name was chosen to better reflect the venue's karaoke offering and said the previous branding simply wasn’t working.

"There is an element of edge down there [in the town centre], so we wanted to create something that wasn't just about drinking."

Not everyone online was upset by the name change.

Some social media users praised the bold choice, with one writing: "Brilliant name. Will suit all the bad singers they have going on."