A group of neo-Nazis celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday at a pub in Greater Manchester then boasted about it on social media.
Members of British Movement – a fringe far-right extremist group – unfurled racist flags and brought along a cake adorned with a swastika to mark the dictator’s 136th birthday last Saturday afternoon.
Staff at the Duke of Edinburgh in Royton were unaware what the group – branded a ‘tiny collection of crank Hitler fetishists and washed up hooligans’ – were doing and have since reported them to the police.
Outgoing landlord Terry English told Metro: ‘They snuck in the pub, the cake was covered up, none of the staff saw anything.’
In pictures later posted on British Movement’s Telegram feed, three men with their faces pixelated hold a flag emblazoned with a swastika, SS bolts and the Iron Cross inside the pub.
It was digitally altered to include a black and white photograph of Hitler – who was responsible for the deaths of millions of people including six millions Jews.
Another picture showed five men posing behind the British Movement flag.
The Manchester Evening News obtained footage which showed the men unfurling the flags to pose for pictures before quickly hiding them away.
In it one man wears a German national team football shirt with ‘Fuhrer 44’ printed on the back and appears to do the Nazi salute.
A post on the group’s Telegram feed reads: ‘On a gorgeous sunny afternoon in Greater Manchester, a platoon of Northwest British Movement met up to celebrate the 136th Birthday of Uncle A.
‘It certainly didn’t take long for the dimly lit interior of the Oldham boozer to be filled with the warm laughter of comrades old and new.
‘Tables were filled with a plethora of drinks: frosty pints of beer, fruity cocktails, schooners, and birthday cake!
‘As the evening wore on more laughter and lively conversation echoed around the pub, with everyone telling stories and sharing some of their own dreams and aspirations, each person adding to the tapestry of hopes for the future.
‘They reminisced about the good times while planning their future BM escapades, ensuring that this celebration was just one of many more to come.’
The Duke of Edinburgh’s incoming landlady Jean Anderson, who is taking over the pub next week from her partner Terry English, told the Manchester Evening News: ‘We didn’t see anything until it was posted online. We thought it was a birthday party.
‘They said they had a cake, but we didn’t know what happened because they covered everything up.
‘The pub was full. There were about six to eight men and one woman. They sat in the corner and didn’t cause any problems.
‘I have never seen them before but they definitely won’t be coming in here again.’
Mr English added: ‘They were sneaky. We didn’t see anything until we saw the pictures. I just can’t understand why they picked this pub.’
The British Movement was founded in 1968. According to activist group Hope Not Hate, it succeeded in attracting violent, racist thugs.
David Lawrence, senior researcher at anti-fascism campaign group Hope not Hate, described it as a ‘highly fringe Nazi group that is repulsive even by the standards of the far right’.
He said the group ‘remains a tiny collection of crank Hitler fetishists and washed up hooligans’.
A spokesperson for Craft Union Pubs, which runs the Duke of Edinburgh, told Metro.co.uk: ‘A group entered the Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday under the pretext of celebrating a birthday and gathered in a back area of the venue.
‘The group actively concealed their clothing and their activities during the visit and as a result, their actions were not visible to staff at the time.
‘The operator who runs the pub was therefore unaware of what had taken place until after the event.
‘Upon becoming aware, the operator reported the matter to the police immediately.
‘To be clear, we are absolutely appalled at what took place. We do not and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, and these people aren’t welcome in any of our venues.
‘We are focused on uniting our local communities, not dividing them. We are supporting our operator to look after their team, who are understandably incredibly distressed by the incident.’
Membership of the British Movement is not currently illegal.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said they are investigation where a Section 18 public order offence, which includes displaying written material which is intended to stir up racial hatred, has been committed.
They added: ‘Police in Oldham are investigating reports that a group attended a pub on Market Street in Royton in possession of Nazi memorabilia.
‘We are treating this incident with the utmost sensitivity and severity, and we are appealing to the public.
‘If you have any information which may assist with the progression of the investigation, please to come forward.
‘Information can be shared by calling 0161 856 9577 or 101 quoting log 784 of 24/4/25.’
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