Scottish restaurant's 'offensive' poster gets cleared by advertising regulator

 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- The UK's Advertising Standards Agency has refused to uphold two complaints about a poster used by a Vietnamese street food restaurant to advertise their noodle night.

The poster, created by The Hanoi Bike Shop in Glasgow, features the slogan "Phat Phuc."

Seats are selling fast for February's 'Phat Phuc' tomorrow evening! Call us on 0141 334 7165 to book! pic.twitter.com/aPiyRFt8xo— The Hanoi Bike Shop (@Hanoibikeshop) February 1, 2016

Two people complained that the advert was "offensive"/"inappropriate" according to the ASA's report, but The Hanoi Bike Shop responded by saying that the slogan actually means "Happy Buddha" and is pronounced "Fet Fook" in Vietnamese.

The ASA sided with the restaurant and refused to uphold the complaints.

Twitter seemed to support the decision.

@katiebute @Hanoibikeshop phuc'in delicious food!— Steven Bell (@lexsteven) February 10, 2016

Really?! Brilliant advertising from @Hanoibikeshop people should get a phuc'in sense of humour!https://t.co/kL0AwiMw2r— Katie Smith (@katiebute) February 10, 2016

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