Pub "asked to take down banner celebrating St George's Day"

EXCLUSIVE

by Dave Burke

dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk

A pub's staff claim a Croydon Council officer asked them to take down a banner - calling on people to celebrate St George's Day.

The sign was hung across Southbridge Road, in South Croydon, last Friday bearing the words: "Don't Be Afraid To Be English, Celebrate At The Star".

But the next day landlord's daughter Rosie Parsons says she was told the wording was inappropriate.

Croydon Council insists the officer only had a problem with the banner's positioning.

However, Rosie and dad Derek maintain they were told specifically it was the words on the sign that were the problem.

"It's ridiculous, there's no racist overtone to it at all," Mr Parsons said.

"Boris Johnson is spending £3.5 million on pushing St George's Day, and we're trying to do our bit.

"All the things going wrong in Croydon and the council's worrying about that."

Rosie says The Star merely wanted to alert people to a day of events yesterday (Thursday), as the pub marked St George's Day with a charity fundraiser.

"I don't know why anyone would find it offensive," she said.

"The way he (the council officer) put it across was as if it was a racial complaint.

"No one really makes an effort for St George's Day anymore, so we thought we would.

"It's not as if the sign says you can't come in if you're not English, everyone's welcome.

"St Patrick's Day is a really big day, but not many people know it's St George's Day."

In order to raise cash for good causes, a team from The Star was going head-to-head with rivals from The Wheelwrights Arms in a tug-of-war competition, with the winners getting to select the charity money raised would go to.

When the Advertiser approached Croydon Council, a spokeswoman denied the officer had complained about the wording.

She said: "Officers from the council's mobile enforcement team visited The Star pub on Saturday after concerns were raised about a banner outside the premises.

"Officers spoke to the landlord about correctly securing the banner, and after checking its position, were satisfied it was not causing a hazard to traffic or pedestrians.

"No further action was taken."

But Rosie insists this isn't how it happened.

She said: "I pulled into the car park on Saturday and there was a man in a yellow jacket looking at the sign.

"He said 'we've had a complaint about the wording on the banner, people have found it offensive'.

"He said the wording wasn't appropriate and could we take it down. I said 'no we couldn't' so he said he would have to take it up with the council."