Patriotic Pub Landlord Loses Appeal to Keep Giant St George's Cross
A patriotic landlord is poised to lose his appeal to retain a massive St George's cross painted on the front of his historic pub. Jerry Kunkler, who owns the Moonrakers Inn in Pewsey, Wiltshire, originally applied the red and white colours a decade ago to cheer on England during the 2016 European Championships. The decoration remained unchallenged until approximately one year ago, when a visitor from London staying at a local Airbnb reportedly complained to the council.
Complaint and Controversy
The complaint allegedly stated that the 17th-century pub resembled 'the headquarters of the National Front'. Because the Moonrakers Inn is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 17th century, Mr Kunkler was required to submit a planning application to keep the 20ft by 20ft red cross. Several individuals objected to this application, with one person labelling it 'racist' and claiming it sent an 'anti-migrant' message.
Now, planners at Wiltshire Council have recommended that the application should be refused and the red paint must be removed. If Mr Kunkler fails to comply, officials have advised that the local authority's enforcement team should issue a formal notice. Ignoring this legal notice could result in criminal charges.
Council Decision and Landlord's Defence
The matter will proceed to Wiltshire Council's planning committee next week, where refusal is expected to be voted through. Mr Kunkler, who also serves as a Conservative councillor on Wiltshire Council, vehemently denied that his St George's cross is a racist symbol. He insisted his pub is simply an England-supporting sports bar.
'The recommendation is to be expected,' Mr Kunkler said. 'Because I am a councillor I will not be allowed to speak at the meeting, but my manager will read out a statement. It has been painted like that for ten years because we are a sports bar and like to support England for World Cups, the Euros, the Six Nations and women's rugby. Nobody has ever kicked off about it until somebody made a complaint about it last year.'
He added that suggestions to use flags instead were impractical, as they would appear untidy and still require planning permission for flag poles.
Planning Officer's Assessment
Council planning officer Pippa Card acknowledged objectors' concerns regarding the cross's 'presumed association with other organisations' and that it 'lowered the tone of area'. However, her decision was primarily based on the pub's listed building status. 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 further noted it caused 'visual harm to the special architectural character and historic interest of the early 19th century façade'.
Local Objections and Broader Implications
Jayne Manley, a local parish councillor and environmentalist, was among those who objected. She argued that the St George's Cross prominently displayed on public buildings is perceived by some as an 'anti-migrant' message. Citing a recent poll where 52% of ethnic minority adults view the flag as a racist symbol, she questioned whether it aligned with the rural village's vision of being an open and inclusive community.
'In this specific case,' she wrote, '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.'
In response, Mr Kunkler stated: '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 Bangladeshi flag from it with pride. That is what I am doing.'
Heritage Concerns
Other objectors focused on heritage issues, arguing the cross has no place on a protected listed building. Elizabeth Strutt commented: '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.'
The red and white paint has adorned the Grade II-listed building for ten years without incident until the complaint emerged last year. The upcoming council meeting will likely seal the fate of this patriotic display, highlighting tensions between personal expression, community perceptions, and historical preservation.
