I have a confusing situation with some wayspot updates I made via the Pokemon go app. On Monday I submitted updates to the title, description, and photo updates for ‘the black bull’ - a well known local pub which hasn’t gone by that name since it shut down in 2021, and reopened as ‘the black and white bull’ (the colours of the local football team). It has since been reopened again as “The Blue Star”, a nod to it’s heritage, once upon a time owned by Newcastle Breweries, which had a famous blue star logo. Point being the wayspot is quite outdated (like many in my area) so I submitted all 3 at the same time).
The title update was rejected, and so was the subsequent appeal. The reason given is that it is ‘not related to the wayspot’.
I’m completely puzzled by this. ‘the black bull’ no longer exists, although the physical location still exists and is still operating with the same owners with a new landlord and a new name.
The rejection also note that “trying to repurpose a Wayspot is a violation of our policies” - now this has me really worried because it is Go Fest quite soon and a suspension would just be a disaster for me.
Here’s where it gets weird - the description was accepted, but this description refers to the pubs new name, giving historical context to it’s current and previous names, but the way it’s written contradicts the title, which can presumably never be changed.
I have also submitted an updated photo which is currently in the queue. I don’t see any reason this would be rejected, but now I’m wondering whether I should withdraw it on the off-chance someone decides I’m up to something funny & decides to penalise my account.
So now I don’t know what to do.
I’m considering withdrawing the photo submission - which is frustrating because the queue takes so long - but I don’t want to risk being suspended.
I can’t withdraw the description & wouldn’t risk making a new edit - but now this is now out of sync with the title.
Is it normal practice to submit one edit at a time, and wait for previous edits to be accepted before the next edit? How can I avoid future mix-ups?
What are my chances of getting suspended over this?
Location: 54.975738, -1.627076
The accepted edits might have gone through community review. A lot of reviewers would have accepted these edits, but some will have been aware of the problems of repurposing.
When a POI is a business that changes owners and changes name, the correct process is to resubmit it and report the old wayspot for removal. This gives a chance for the new details to be properly evaluated.
This is true for pubs, even if nothing else changes about the pub.
(Murals are the exception, even if the mural completely changes. Just the way things are!)
The vagaries of U.K. pub ownership/Landlord arrangements and the way the name can change do not sit comfortably with some wayfarer rules.
Repurposing is when one business closes and another one takes over the location. The process in wayfarer is to remove the original wayspot and make a fresh nomination. This normally because the reasons this wayspot was approved has gone and so the wayspot should go.
For this case I suggest trying to use this form
It was designed for property owners but you can use it, just ignore those elements or any auto replies.
Explain the situation and provide the new text
That it isn’t a new business but a name change.
Hopefully this may resolve the issue.
If it doesn’t you may have to remove and resubmit.
Oh, that’s interesting!
I had no idea about this rule. Is there a more comprehensive rule guide than the criteria page? I don’t think this has been made clear.
The black bull didn’t technically change owners since it’s owned by some brew co, but they did evict the landlord so the people running it are different, and under a new company registration.
This seems like a convoluted process, and I’m already on edge about being suspended, so I probably won’t bother and will leave this to somebody else.
There are 2 other out of date wayspots right on top of it so I suspect these may find themselves promoted to ‘in-game’ if the current wayspot disappears.
The rule about repurposing is there to stop people switching up wayspots to things that wouldn’t get accepted. For example, when a business premises gets taken over, e.g., changing from a cafe to a tattoo shop.
It’s unhelpful when it comes to pubs and it does make things a little bit complicated.
Going through the route that @elijustrying provided will not be a problem for your account and is a safe route for this wayspot.
Thanks for the extra information - I didn’t see this when I wrote my reply.
I’m confused about that form though- there’s very limited options for removal reason, none of which seem to apply?
I dislike this form so much 
as you are sometimes made to pick something that doesn’t apply. I would like a much simpler and transparent way.
Try picking the first one.
Then start your text by saying you picked it, but that is not the issue.
You can copy a link to this topic to show further background as to why you are using the form.
I believe you get an auto email saying you will have to provide proof you are the owner…..ignore that, there will be a subsequent email from a human.
Excellent, thanks both for your help!
The problem here is that while Niantic can be persuaded that it’s fine to change the name of a pub - they’ve done it twice for me - I really don’t recommend it. Firstly, they won’t remove the old photos, and secondly, you’ll get people forever afterwards accusing you of abuse. Just remove it (which itself is not guaranteed) and re-submit.
I quite like seeing the old photos of pubs it shows the history.
But interesting to hear that other viewpoint 
Absolutely, the challenge is getting people to vote on the new ones. Quite rightly, if they do not understand that pubs are a special case, they are reluctant to do this in case they are condoning abuse.
