A patriotic pub landlord has won his fight to keep a giant St George’s cross on the front of his pub after just one person complained.
Jerry Kunkler painted the flag onto the Moonrakers Inn in Pewsey, Wiltshire, a decade ago to show support for England in the World Cup.
But a visitor from London staying in an AirBnB suddenly objected to the display and moaned to the council, reportedly saying it looked like ‘the headquarters of the National Front’.
Mr Kunkler faced an uphill battle to get permission to keep the feature, and looked certain to fail after council planners recommended his application be refused.
But in an unexpected turnaround, the committee this week narrowly voted in his favour, leaving the publican ‘very happy’ that the pub will still be painted for this year’s World Cup.
Mr Kunkler said there had never been any issues since the pub was painted in 2016 until the complaint was lodged, even after the flag was touched up in 2022.
But it triggered an investigation by Wiltshire Council in November last year, and he was forced to apply for planning permission because the 17th-century building is Grade II listed.
Patriotic pub landlord Jerry Kunkler has won his appeal to keep a St George’s cross on the front of his Moonrakers Inn in Pewsey, Wiltshire
The red and white paint has been on the Grade II-listed building for a decade without any issues until a year ago, when a visitor complained to the local council
Six people gave their support to the painted flag and two people gave mixed comments.
But four people objected to the application, including one person who said it was ‘racist’ and it sent out an ‘anti-migrant’ message.
Planning chiefs recommended it should be rejected, insisting the cross harmed the character of the building and was ‘out of keeping’ with the village Conservation Area.
One of the councillors argued the St George’s cross was seen by some people as a symbol ‘anti-migrant’ attitudes.
Mr Kunkler, who celebrates 45 years behind the bar, was not allowed to speak at the meeting either as the applicant, or as the ward councillor as he is a serving councillor.
But he warned beforehand that the alternative – attaching flags to the walls – would look ‘untidy’.
It was therefore a relief to learn that, after considering the officer report, planning policy, and all material considerations, the committee resolved to grant consent, by five to three.
After the decision, the landlord said: ‘I am very happy that we are keeping the cross.
‘Obviously we got St George’s Day Next week, we have got the World Cup coming and the Women’s Six Nations.
‘I think it’s the right decision to be out there for a long time.
Mr Kunkler looked set to lose his planning application, but it was approved in a surprise turnaround
The flag will remain on the face of the Moonrakers for St George’s Day and this year’s World Cup
‘Having the red paint on there it causes no harm to the building, whereas if you have brackets for flags it could cause harm.
He added: ‘I am more than happy, customers are very happy and I think everyone was there to support.
‘I was reported by someone and I think because it’s a St George cross it was more of a political statement rather than anything else.’
In reaching its decision, the committee concluded that, on balance, the alterations are acceptable in planning terms and do not result in unacceptable harm to the listed building or the character and appearance of the Pewsey Conservation Area.
Cllr Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: ‘We have a legal duty to protect listed buildings and conservation areas and when a concern is raised about unlawful works to a listed building we are required to investigate and, where necessary, take appropriate action.
‘In this case, the correct process has been followed and the final decision has been made by democratically elected members from different political parties.
‘This decision was made on planning and heritage grounds about the effect on a listed building – the content or meaning of the design itself was not a consideration in the decision.’
Planning officer Pippa Card was responsible for preparing a report for the council, and recommended the application be rejected.
The row was sparked by a complaint that the pub looked like the ‘headquarters of the National Front’
She acknowledged objectors’ concerns about the cross’s ‘presumed association with other organisations’ and that it ‘lowered the tone of area’, but ultimately it was the pub’s listed building status she based her decision on.
She stated that the red cross ‘fails to preserve the special interest’ of the building and the striped colour scheme ‘is not considered an appropriate or traditional form of decoration’ for it.
She added it caused ‘visual harm to the special architectural character and historic interest of the early 19th century façade’.
Jayne Manley, a local parish councillor and environmentalist, was another of those who objected.
She said the St George’s Cross prominently displayed on public buildings was seen by some people to be an ‘anti-migrant’ message.
She quoted a recent poll in which 52 per cent of ethnic minority adults consider the flag to have become a racist symbol.
And she questioned whether it aligned with the rural village’s vision of being an open and inclusive community.
She wrote: ‘In this specific case, it appears that images of the pub facade have already been shared and circulated within political campaigning contexts, beyond the village.
‘This demonstrates the symbol is no longer confined to a local or sporting interpretation and has entered a broader political narrative.
‘Given Pewsey’s and Wiltshire’s commitment to inclusivity and community cohesion, there is a legitimate concern that such symbolism may cause some individuals to feel uncomfortable, excluded, or misrepresented.’
Addressing the objection raised by Ms Manley, Mr Kunkler said: ‘There is no way this is racism. A lot of people I know are of different ethnic backgrounds.
‘There is an Indian restaurant in Pewsey and they fly the Bandgladeshi flag from it with pride.
‘That is what I am doing.’
Other objectors to the St George’s Cross said it had no place on a protected listed building.
Elizabeth Strutt said: ‘The reason for listing buildings is to preserve structures that are of special architectural or historic interest.
‘This building historically did not have a cross painted on it at the time of listing and it detracts from the nature of the facade.
‘If I, as an owner of a listed house in the same conservation area, were to paint a cross on the outside of my house I have no doubt that the council would take a very dim view.’
