'Poppy red' pub painted over after just ONE resident complained leaving army vet owner 'emotional'

The renovations included painting the window sills and door frame in a poppy red colour, with Mr Elliot inspired by his six-year-long army service, as well as a Stoke City Football Club mural in the beer garden and the city's crest on another wall.

But Mr Elliot was told by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to replace the artwork with more muted colours because the pub lies within the Hartshill Conservation Area.

The 34-year-old told GB News he "genuinely didn't know" about the guidelines of the conservation area until the council alerted him to a complaint from one resident.

Now, Mr Elliot has conceded and taken the "tough decision" to paint the pub white.

"An emotional update, but with a positive outlook. Unfortunately, the red has gone… but the Stoke and Potter’s spirit will always stay inside these walls," a post to the Jolly Potter's Facebook page read.

"After what I’d call positive talks with the local council, I’ve taken the tough decision to follow the area’s conservation colours and accept the error made.

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"This will be part of a bigger plan to develop The Jolly Potters in partnership with the council.

"I can’t thank you all enough for the incredible support — it means so much to me and my young family.

"This might feel like one step back, but the aim is to make a massive leap forward very soon."

An online petition set up last week to stop the pub being repainted has attracted almost 3,000 signatures.

A statement on the Change.Org page read: "This couldn’t come at a worse time. Pubs across the country are struggling to survive, and the Jolly Potters is no exception.

"In recent years it has passed through numerous hands and repeatedly fought to keep its doors open.

"Now, instead of supporting James's efforts to restore it as a thriving community pub, the council is undermining them."

Speaking to the People's Channel following the launch of the petition, Mr Elliot said: "Everyone is a bit shocked by it to be honest.

"People were ringing me thinking it was a joke and saying they didn’t know it was going on."

A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokeswoman said in a statement last week: "Our planning enforcement team is currently looking into this matter.

"The owners of the building have been made aware that the works carried out required planning permission and our teams have been in regular contact with them.

"So far, the owners have not engaged with us to take the necessary steps.

"We have made it clear that failure to repaint the building using the approved colours, or to address the planning breaches, will result in enforcement action."

"The Jolly Potters pub is located in a conservation zone - meaning the area has special architectural or historic interest. This means that any changes to buildings need planning permission to preserve the character of the area."