A landlord who painted a giant St George’s Cross on his pub is under investigation by the council following complaints that it resembles “the headquarters of the National Front”.
Jerry Kunkler, owner of the Moonrakers Inn in Pewsey, Wiltshire, first painted his white pub with the red cross in 2016.
After the Covid pandemic, he repainted it in 2022 for the World Cup in Qatar.
However, he has now been notified by Wiltshire Council that they are investigating a potential breach of planning legislation.
The complaint, according to LDR’s, came from an anonymous local who claimed the pub looked like “the headquarters of the National Front”.
Mr Kunkler, who also holds the title of Wiltshire’s longest-standing councillor, said: “We painted it for the first time in 2016 for the Euros.
“In 2022 we painted it up again for the World Cup in Saudi because I am patriotic I thought I was going to bring the support here – it is a sports bar.
“There has been all this hoo-ha about St George’s Crosses flying around the United Kingdom.
“But because of the length of time this has been out there it has never been anything to do with that.”
In response to the complaint, Mr Kunkler added: “I have always run a family pub. I have been here 44 years always promoting it as a family friendly pub all inclusive.
“But it is an English supporting club. I have always been an England fan. I go to Six Nations games and we always promote them.
“It was a bit strange to get that sort of email but I am going to have to apply the correct way.”
The Moonrakers Inn, an inspiration for the award-winning play Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth, is on Pewsey’s high street, and Mr Kunkler has decorated the inside for occasions such as St George’s Day.
He has been a landlord of the pub since 1981.
He added: “We have also held the jubilee here. I am a bit of a royalist. I was lucky to meet the Queen in 2012.
“I am an old-fashioned English supporting pub.”
This week Adrian Foster, cabinet member for planning at Wiltshire Council told the BBC: “The Moonrakers at 57 High Street in Pewsey is a Grade II-listed building within the Pewsey Conservation Area.
“Listed building consent is sometimes required for external redecoration where there is a change of paint colour.
“The changes reported about this property will be investigated in accordance with the council’s planning enforcement policy.”
