Nightlife entrepreneurs Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling decided to venture off on a new career path this morning, as they popped on their overalls, adorned Italian berets and had their paintbrushes at the ready to become painters for the day. The day has sadly come as the tongue-in-cheek Battersea pizzeria and karaoke bar, Bunga Bunga, has to be painted back to its original white exterior, after the entire façade had been painted in the colours of the Italian flag back in May for the Euros. Viva Italia!
The famed venue, which is a favourite of celebrities such as Cara Delevigne, Katherine Jenkins and Margot Robbie, caused quite a stir with Wandsworth Council after the entire façade had been painted in the colours of the Italian flag back in May and was given a 28 day notice to paint it back to plain white. After immense support from the local community and celebrities alike, Wandsworth Council had a change of heart and allowed them to keep the quirky colour scheme until the end of July.
The fateful day has arrived far too soon, with Inception Group founders being the first ones to pick up the paint brushes and get to work, painting each vibrant stripe wistfully back to white. The duo are thankful to the Wandsworth Council for allowing them to keep the bold façade throughout the summer and Bunga Bunga will continue to be the official home to all Italians in the area.
Inception Group was founded by Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling in 2008 and owns and operates some of London’s most conceptual venues including bars such as: Mr Fogg’s, Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, Barts, Maggie’s, Cahoots and Beaver Lodge, with plans to open a second Bunga Bunga in Covent Garden this Autumn.