A Lincolnshire theatre has confirmed it will pull all pork products from its café during performances of Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show.
Grimsby Auditorium made the decision following a request from animal rights organisation Peta, describing it as “a considerate gesture”.
Bacon sandwiches, sausage rolls, ham sandwiches and scotch eggs will all be unavailable when the children’s production takes to the stage on March 3 and 4.
In place of traditional pork offerings, the theatre will serve vegan ham alternatives.
The auditorium said it remains committed to regularly reviewing and improving its menu options.
Tickets for the show start at £20.
Jennifer White, representing Peta, expressed her delight at the theatre’s decision.
She said:”I think we can all agree it’s contradictory to cheer for a fictional pig family on stage while real pigs are enduring miserable lives and terrifying deaths for the bacon and sausages served up in the theatre’s café.”
The Lincolnshire theatre has scrapped the plans
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She added: “This compassionate decision will help remind children that all pigs are individuals with personalities, and not body parts to be chopped up for a sandwich filler.”
A Peta spokesman said the move reflects children’s natural empathy, suggesting modest adjustments can create meaningful differences for animal welfare.
The charity had originally written to the venue asking it to remove “pig flesh” from the menu to honour Peppa’s family and the fictional residents of Peppatown.
The decision has sparked divided opinions on social media platforms.
Peppa Pig is coming to the Grimsby theatre
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Critics labelled the move as “woke” pandering, with one user writing “Go woke, go broke” while another suggested the auditorium would end up “spectator free”.
One commenter dismissed the policy, joking they would simply consume pork chops before attending the performance.
However, supporters praised Peta’s successful lobbying efforts.
One backer wrote: “I should think so too. What a joke having Peppa on and serving dead pig.”
Peta had campaigned against the theatre
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GETTYPeta has a track record of similar campaigns across the Lincolnshire region.
In 2023, the organisation erected a billboard near a Cleethorpes fish and chip shop claiming that consuming fish was equivalent to eating cats.
The charity has also targeted Skegness’s iconic century-old mascot, the Jolly Fisherman, calling for his retirement and replacement with a character dubbed the “Happy Plaice”.
In November, Peta convinced Chichester Festival Theatre to stop selling pork products during its run of The Three Little Pigs.
The organisation had written to the theatre’s Executive Director arguing it would be inconsistent to have children cheer pigs escaping a wolf while simultaneously offering them pig meat in the restaurant.