A landlord is set to lose his appeal to keep the giant St George's Cross he painted on his pub 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. He repainted it in 2022 for the World Cup in Qatar. Then, in 2025, someone staying at a local Airbnb reported it to the council.

The 19th-century pub is Grade II listed, and so Kunkler had to apply for planning permission to keep the flag up. The planning application received several complaints, with people saying it was “racist” and “anti-migrant”.

He was notified by Wiltshire Council that they were investigating a potential breach of planning legislation, and now planners have recommended that the council reject the application and that the paint be removed. Council planning officer Pippa Card said the St George’s Cross had a “presumed association with other organisations” and that it “lowered the tone of the area”.

But she said she based her decision on the pub's listed building status, saying the red cross “fails to preserve the special interest” of the building.

Card added that the flag “is not considered an appropriate or traditional form of decoration” and causes “visual harm to the special architectural character and historic interest of the early 19th century façade”.

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 Arabia 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. I am an old-fashioned English supporting pub."

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."

The matter will go before Wiltshire Council's planning committee next week, where refusal is likely to be voted through.