The subtle name change was partly an attempt to escape a major TV and film character
The film seemingly had a lasting impact on the town’s reputation, to the point that it’s borough council voted for the name change a decade after it premiered(Image: Surrey Live – Grahame Larter)
For residents of many Surrey towns or villages, the idea of having a hugely successful TV and film character calling your town home is something that would be highly exciting.
However, not everyone in the town of Staines agreed when it came to the fame associated with Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G.
Many Surrey towns take their names from geographical locations or specific industries they were historically known for.
Guildford’s name is derived from Old English, translating to ‘Golden Ford’, with ‘ford’ being used to describe a river crossing. Epsom’s name comes from Saxon landowner, Ebba, with the name evolving from ‘Ebba’s ham’, meaning ‘Ebba’s homestead’ into Epsom.
One Surrey town whose name was given a whole new association following the release of a popular comedy film set there is Staines, or as it is now known, Staines-upon-Thames.
A metaphorical ‘stain’ was left on Staines following the 2002 release of Ali G Indahouse, a British comedy film co-written by and starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Ali G, and set in the town.
Many remain divided on whether Ali G Indahouse being set in Staines benefitted the town, or is a negative association to have(Image: Keith Bedford/Getty Images)
The film, which is known nationally for the infamous character Ali G, revolves around a fictional gang based in the town called Da West Staines Massiv.
Evolving to become a story about global political corruption, which Ali G and his crew fight when Sacha Baron Cohen’s character becomes MP for Staines.
The film was well-received by audiences across the country for its use of “low culture” comedy alongside the loveable, but clearly hyperbolic depictions of the residents of Staines.
Ali G Indahouse, however fictional, seemingly left a poor taste in the mouth of residents, businesses and Spelthorne Borough Council due to its depiction of Staines.
So much to the point that a decade after the film’s release, Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC) voted to change the town’s name to Staines-upon-Thames in December 2011.
The name change was officially put in place in May 2012, with Colin Davis, a councillor for SBC telling the BBC at the time: “Ali G may have had a role, but I think it goes back further than that.
“I regard Ali G as someone who put Staines on the map, we’re just telling people where it is.”
It’s hard to come to a conclusion as to whether the name change has had an impact on the town in the nearly fifteen years since(Image: Grahame Larter/SurreyLive)
There were some who did not agree with the rebranding though, with a club secretary of Staines Town Football Club telling the BBC at the time that the change was “pretentious”.
Residents of the town seemingly supported the change, as a consultation was hosted by the Spelthorne Business Forum prior to the council vote with its then-chairman Alex Tribick telling the BBC “it was quite clear” that a new name was “what the public wanted.”
Sacha Baron Cohen’s film was not the only driving factor for the re-branding with the borough council also citing aims of further associating Staines with its riverside location and attracting more businesses and visitors.
Nearly fifteen years on from Staines becoming Staines-upon-Thames it is hard to ascertain whether it has had a major impact on the town. After all, it was just adding two additional words.
According to data by Home.co.uk, the average house prices in the town have risen steadily since 2012, in line with the national average.
They now sit at an average of £469,500 over the last year according to Rightmove, this is lower than the entire county’s average home value of £587k, as per Plumplot.