'Offensive' Brighton Churchill to stay despite complaints

The mural in Russell Square, Brighton, depicts Sir Winston Churchill wearing stockings and suspenders and giving the famous ‘V’ for victory sign.

The owner of the Sandpiper guest house, on which the mural is painted, said he was contacted by Brighton and Hove City Council and given three days to alter the image.

He said he was told the council had received more than ten complaints about the hand gesture, but the council says it was only one.

The 'historically authentic' mural in Brighton

The owner, Mr Phillips, said: “I was worried the council would ruin the painting.

“People love it and are always taking pictures of it so I called Horace to come and change it”

Horace, once-dubbed Worthing’s answer to Banksy, was the artist behind the mural.

He said: “I was surprised when Mr Phillips contacted me, I thought the image might be controversial, but because of the stockings, not the V-sign.

“It never crossed my mind that people would be offended by that as that’s what he was doing.

As a result, I haven’t changed it.”

The alterations weren’t necessary, the owner says, as at the final hour “the council called to say the decision had been overturned”.

When contacted by The Argus, the council said it would not need to be changed as the gesture was “historically authentic”.

Mr Phillips said: “‘I’m relieved at the decision.

“It is a victory for the Sandpiper guest house.”

The painting called Churchill rainbow was created as part of a series featuring well-known Brightonians and those with links to the city.

Winston Churchill went to school in Hove and, as the artist couldn’t find a picture with legs, stockings and suspenders were added to the mural instead.

Rock star Nick Cave

Horace has also painted portraits around the city of rock singer Nick Cave and former model Katie Price, depicting her as Wonder Woman.

Glamour Model Katie Price

A council spokesperson said: “We have not received ten complaints about this.

“A couple of weeks ago we had one complaint about it, on the grounds that the V-sign was seen to be an offensive gesture.

“The member of staff who asked for it to be removed was advised by the owner that the gesture was in fact historically authentic.

“Once we established that this was indeed the case we got back to the owner to apologise and to advise that the mural would not need to be changed.”