Heineken

Heineken

‘Hotel Babylon’ was a music programme, broadcasted in 1996, and produced jointly by Planet 24 and Heineken, the beer brewing company. The British Press were tipped off to a racist action by a senior member of staff on behalf of Heineken, who wrote to Planet 24 complaining that a particular scene in Hotel Babylon had “a too high proportion of negroes”. The Press approached Grant for a response, and Grant in turn wrote to the director of Heineken to offer the opportunity of an explanation. By way of finding an appropriate recompense for the racist remark, Grant’s office via his P.A and wife Sharon Grant, suggested that Heineken might sponsor a Black-led project.

Specifically, Sharon Grant recommended sponsoring a paid role to help develop Caribbean Links, which was founded by Grant as a “non-political, family organisation, which was born out of a desire to emphasise the positive aspects of Caribbean culture”. This role was necessary to ensure the required time and energy could be pooled into the organisation, as these were recurrent issues for Black-led projects at the time, who had difficulty sourcing capital and financial support. The response to this suggestion from Heineken was negative, and the director claimed that “other than a public apology and a correct way of conducting business, nothing can be done to wash away the shame that has come over us”.

Heineken Incident Sharon Grant Letter to Waheed Ali [BG_P_16_10]

This document is a 1996 letter from Sharon Lawrence, Bernie Grant's PA, to Waheed Alli discussing the Caribbean Links organisation and potential sponsorship from Heineken. It offers insight into Bernie Grant's community work supporting Caribbean cultural pride and the practical challenges faced in developing voluntary organisations linked to his campaign efforts.

Open document

Heineken Response [BG_P_16_11]

This document is a letter dated January 12, 1996, from K. Vuursteen, Chairman of the Heineken Executive Board, responding to Bernie Grant MP's call for the company to make donations to African-owned charities following a controversy involving discrimination. It is useful for understanding Bernie Grant's campaign against corporate discrimination and the responses it elicited, highlighting Heineken's rejection of monetary donations as a way to address harm and their commitment to improving business practices instead.

Open document