In a surprising turn of events, council officials have demanded that the Golden Chippy, known as London’s finest fish and chip shop, remove its Union flag mural. Situated in Greenwich, south-east London, owner Chris Kanizi and his team were bewildered by the decision. The mural, featuring a humanoid fish holding the flag alongside the slogan “A Great British Meal,” was considered inappropriate for the area. Despite the controversy, the Golden Chippy has consistently attracted a high number of visitors, including numerous overseas tourists, ever since it was crowned London’s top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in 2016.
Installed just a month ago at a cost of £250, the mural had become an additional asset to Chris Kanizi’s business, enticing social media-savvy customers with a selfie opportunity. This isn’t the first clash Mr. Kanizi, originally from northern Cyprus and a resident in the UK since 1977, has had with Greenwich council over his enthusiasm for promoting fish and chips.
Back in 2016, the council demanded the removal of a significantly larger sign, approximately 17 feet high, bearing a strikingly similar design, positioned above the shop’s entrance.
“After a lengthy two-year struggle and garnering over 3,000 signatures on a supportive petition, Chris Kanizi finally relented in the face of potential legal action. The battle ensued when Greenwich council objected to his beloved mural.
“It’s simply meant to bring joy to people,” Kanizi expressed. “But the council insisted, ‘This is a preservation area – you can’t have that,’ demanding it be painted over. They claimed complaints from residents, but I find that hard to believe. Everyone I’ve spoken to loves it.”
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Originally aspiring to study medicine upon arriving in London, Kanizi humorously remarks that he’s become quite the “expert fish surgeon” instead.”
Running the Golden Chippy for two decades and residing just two doors away, the 65-year-old proprietor remains steadfast. “I’ll hold on as long as possible,” he affirmed. “They haven’t specified a deadline for painting over it, but it’s inevitable.”
“My clientele spans the globe,” he added. “They relish capturing a moment with the mural as their backdrop.”
Situated within a 19th-century conservation area, the Golden Chippy faces scrutiny over its mural. Despite this, Mr. Kanizi has referenced historical photographs from the 1940s, depicting the property as a café adorned with various trade signs.
During the previous controversy, a local residents’ group criticized the council’s interpretation of heritage as “limited and disconnected.”
Responding to several complaints forwarded to local ward councillors, a spokesperson from Greenwich council stated, “An enforcement case was initiated regarding the contentious mural.”
Our Planning Enforcement team is currently looking into this matter as the mural can be seen as an unauthorized advertisement for the chip shop. The owner has consented to removing it.
“We prioritize discussions with the owner to find a resolution before resorting to formal planning enforcement measures.
