Bunga Bunga, on Battersea Bridge Road and owned by Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling of the Inception Group, was in May painted bright green, white and red to echo the Italian flag, to celebrate the Euros 2016 football tournament.
The council had ordered the venue to be painted entirely white within 28 days and threatened the company with legal action if it did not comply. The planning department had argued that the paint colours had an “adverse effect” on the appearance of the area, and said that some residents had complained.
Bunga Bunga countered that residents had actually responded positively to the changes.
Now, the council has said that the paint colours can stay until the end of the tournament next month, a decision that has been welcomed by Gilkes and Stirling.
Bunga Bunga ‒ which is said to be popular with celebrities including the models Cara and Poppy Delevingne, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Christine Hamilton, Prince Harry, Katherine Jenkins, and Princess Eugenie ‒ serves Italian-style dishes such as pizza (as well as British touches such as Sunday Roasts) alongside an extensive cocktail list. During the Euros 2016 it has been holding parties and events coinciding with Italy's games.
The group recently announced plans to open its second Bunga Bunga site in Covent Garden, which will be the duo’s ninth site overall after they opened Mr Fogg’s Tavern in Covent Garden in 2015.
In response to the council decision, co-owner Gilkes tweeted that he was “delighted that Wandsworth Council have let Bunga Bunga keep our stripes for the duration of Euro 16”.