Grays pub at centre of golly dolls row listed for sale

The White Hart Inn closed in May after it was vandalised and faced a supplier boycott

A pub that closed after a hate crime investigation into its display of golly dolls has been put up for sale.

The White Hart Inn, in Grays, Essex, was vandalised and faced a supplier boycott after several of the dolls were seized in April.

The pub closed a month later as police investigated but prosecutors decided its landlords would face no action.

An estate agent has invited offers of over £575,000 for the Grade II-listed building and its "large beer garden".

• No apology for Golly doll pub case - police chief

• Golly dolls pub closes doors after supplier boycott

• What led to a police probe over golly dolls in a pub?

As reported in the Echo, Savills described the property in Argent Street as having "an open trading area with a central bar servery and a private function room to the rear".

"The property is held freehold and is available with vacant possession," it added.

Police seized several golly dolls from behind the bar and began a hate crime investigation

Officers seized golly dolls from behind the bar on 4 April and the building was vandalised with white paint and had its windows damaged on 16 April.

Heineken and Carlsberg told the pub to stop serving its lager, Camra removed it from its Good Beer Guide and also removed the Pub of the Year awards on display.

The pub closed in May, with co-leaseholder Benice Ryley telling Thurrock Nub News she had "had enough".

Essex Police said it supplied evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after an "exhaustive" investigation.

The CPS said: "We considered the available evidence and concluded our legal test for a prosecution was not met."

The Grade II-listed building is for sale, with an estate agent inviting offers of over £575,000

Golly dolls are based on 18th Century minstrels and regarded as caricatures.

They first appeared on jars of Robertson's Jam in 1910 before finally being dropped in 2001 amid accusations the character perpetuated stereotypes.

Gollies have become controversial for their perceived racist connotations.