Landlord whose pub bull mural noticed him lock horns with the council wins planning battle

A landlord has triumphed in his battle to keep a striking bull mural on the side of his centuries-old pub after a fierce dispute with local council planners.

Martin Peel, 52, had been ordered to remove the 8ft-high painting of a Hereford bull, named ‘Eddie’, from The Bull’s Head in Wootton Wawen, Warwickshire. 

The artwork had been commissioned last year for £1,200 from local artist Phil Taylor, and was unveiled with much fanfare.

However, weeks after the mural was completed, Martin received a letter from Stratford District Council, which claimed that because the pub is a listed building, the mural breached planning regulations. 

The council gave him just four weeks to paint over the artwork or face legal action.

Refusing to be ‘bullied’ by the council, Martin fought back and lodged a retrospective planning application to retain the mural. In a dramatic turn of events, councillors have now granted approval, with conditions.

While the bull mural can remain in place, it will be reviewed again in five years, in 2030. 

In the meantime, the pub’s exterior will need to be revamped to look more ‘farm-like,’ with the front garden landscaped, and certain features, like a vent on the building, removed.

Martin Peel, 52, had been ordered to remove the 8ft-high painting of a Hereford bull, named ‘Eddie’, from The Bull’s Head in Wootton Wawen, Warwickshire

The artwork had been commissioned last year for £1,200 from local artist Phil Taylor, and was unveiled with much fanfare

The council gave him just four weeks to paint over the artwork or face legal action

Martin, who has been running the 16th-century pub with his partner Omm for four years, expressed his relief. 

He said: ‘We’re delighted that common sense has prevailed. When we were initially give four weeks to remove it we were all shocked.

‘Everyone I spoke to really liked the design and it made the pub stand out. We got a lot of support from the locals in the pub who said it was ridiculous.

‘We were determined to fight for Eddie so hired a consultant who said we could do apply for retrospective planning permission.

‘We put a petition up and got a lot of support. We went for it and finally got it under a few conditions.

‘There’s a vent on the pub which we’re going to take down and we’re going to landscape the front of the pub garden but we can keep Eddie bull.

‘The artist is extremely pleased about it. He’ll be back in April to keep it maintained which is part of the condition. We’re extremely pleased with the council and the decision.’

Council planners also insisted the mural is properly maintained to prevent it flaking off in bad weather and said the pub grounds needed renovating.

Refusing to be ‘bullied’ by the council, Martin fought back and lodged a retrospective planning application to retain the mural. In a dramatic turn of events, councillors have now granted approval, with conditions

While the bull mural can remain in place, it will be reviewed again in five years, in 2030

Council planners also insisted the mural is properly maintained to prevent it flaking off in bad weather and said the pub grounds needed renovating

Martin, an ex-aircraft engineer, added: ‘The council know it’s a brewery owned pub and it’s a 17th century inn, so they’re just making sure it’s looked after. It’s so we honour it.

‘The front was tarmaced once upon a time, we’ll just lawn it up to the building and give it a wooden fence so it looks farm-like.

‘We’d already planned to keep the bull maintained, we’re getting the artist in again shortly.

‘It gives us a presence, we had people commenting before they thought it was a house on the bend, so it helps our business.’

Locals also expressed their delight that ‘Eddie’ was staying put.

One said: ‘It’s great news. Martin and Omm have really turned the pub around. Eddie made the pub stand out and became very popular.

‘It’s a clever design, Martin even had a local artist do it and it honours the history of the landscape around here.’

A spokesperson for Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: ‘Now that the case is concluded, there is no comment.’