Shocking images have emerged from fringe far-right group British Movement’s recent pub trip in Royton as members of the organisation met with flags and a swastika cake to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday
British Neo-Nazis were pictured heading to a pub to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday last Saturday afternoon. The men were reportedly members of the fringe far-right group British Movement and met at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Royton, Greater Manchester with Nazi flags and a swastika cake.
The pub has reported the incident to police and said staff were unaware of the group’s presence until the following day. Images of the pub trip were shared to the group’s Telegram page, one showing three men with their faces pixelated holding a flag emblazoned with a swastika, SS bolts and the Iron Cross. An image of Hitler had been added to the snap.
Another picture showed five men posing behind the British Movement flag, Manchester Evening News reports. A post on the group’s Telegram feed read: “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.”
Manchester Evening News also obtained video footage revealing the faces of those involved. The video shows the men unfurling the flags to pose for pictures before quickly hiding them away. It also shows one man, wearing a German national team football shirt with ‘Fuhrer 44’ printed on the back, appearing to do the Nazi salute.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s incoming landlady Jean Anderson, who is taking over the pub next week from her partner Terry English, said she was angered by BM’s actions.
She said: “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.”
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP Jim McMahon described the celebration as ‘a disgraceful insult to the memory of the nearly 100 local men who died fighting Nazism’.
He added: “This vile display is a stark reminder that the threat of the far right is real. Glorifying an ideology responsible for the deaths of millions has no place in our community. These acts of hate and division must always be called out and rooted out.”
David Lawrence, senior researcher at anti-fascism campaign group Hope not Hate, described BM as a ‘highly fringe Nazi group that is repulsive even by the standards of the far right’.
He added: “The group is trying to raise its profile with small propaganda actions, especially in the North West, where its numbers have grown slightly due to the defection of activists from a larger fascist organisation, Patriotic Alternative.
“The promotion of base racial hatred is always dangerous. However, the British Movement today is no closer to ushering in a new Reich than when it launched decades ago, and remains a tiny collection of crank Hitler fetishists and washed up hooligans.”
A spokesperson for Craft Union Pubs, which runs the Duke of Edinburgh, said: “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: “On Wednesday, April 23 we received a report that several individuals attended a pub on Market Street in Royton on Saturday, April 20, and were in possession of Nazi memorabilia.
“Enquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances. If you have any information, or were affected by this incident, please contact police on 101 quoting log 784 of 24/4/25.”