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An award-winning fish and chip shop has been ordered to remove a Union flag mural by council officials over claims it is ‘inappropriate for the area’.
Chris Kanizi, 65, who owns Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London, has been told to paint over the mural of the humanoid fish on the wall of his restaurant, which has been adored by tourists.
Greenwich council said they received a ‘number of complaints’ about the mural, which features the phrase ‘A Great British Meal’, they said was an ‘unauthorised advert’.
Mr Kansizi, who has been running Golden Chippy for 20 years and lives two doors down, said he doesn’t believe people were complaining about the mural, which was deemed ‘inappropriate’ according to the Telegraph.
Back in 2016, the 65-year-old had a battle with the council over a 17ft sign above the door of his restaurant, which was previously named London’s top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor. The restaurateur eventually took down the 17ft sign in 2018.
The new mural, which was painted by local artists Graffiti Interiors, is a recreation of the 2016 sign.
Pictured: Golden Chippy owner Chris Kanizi standing beside the Union Flag mural painted on the side of his restaurant
Chris Kanizi, 65, holds up fish in his award-winning restaurant in south-east London
Mr Kanizi paid a local artists £250 to paint the mural, which is loved by tourists
The Golden Chippy was deemed London’s best restaurant by TripAdvisor in 2016
The Golden Chippy was deemed London’s best restaurant in 2016 by TripAdvisor
He said: ‘It’s just something to put a smile on people’s faces. But the council said “this is a preservation area – you can’t have that and you’ve got to paint over it”.
‘They also said people had been complaining, but I don’t believe that. Everyone who has talked to me say they love it’.
The Cyprus-born chip shop owner, who came to the UK in 1977, previously had a two-year battle with the council over a similar 17ft sign he hung above the door in 2016.
Mr Kansizi eventually took the sign down despite starting a petition to keep the sign which gathered 3,000 signatures.
And the fish and chips expert has vowed to keep the £250 mural up for as long as possible.
Greenwich council said they received a ‘number of complaints’ about the mural (pictured), which features the phrase ‘A Great British Meal’, they said was an ‘unauthorised advert’
Mr Kanizi in front of the 2016 sign which he took down after the local council ordered it be removed
Chris Kanizi has been serving locals and tourists for 20 years at his fish shop
He said: ‘I’m going to stick it out for as long as I can. They haven’t given me a date to paint over it yet, but they will.’
‘I’ve got so many international customers. They all like taking a photo with the mural in the background.’
A Greenwich council spokesman said: ‘Following a number of complaints made to local ward councillors, an enforcement case was raised about the mural in question.
‘Our Planning Enforcement team is investigating this as it is effectively an unauthorised advert for the chip shop. The owner has agreed to paint over it.
‘We will always try to negotiate with the owner before proceeding to a formal planning enforcement notice.’
