James Elliot, 34, spent £15,000 covering The Jolly Potters in Stoke City FC colours and decking the pub garden out in bright red and white. James had splashed out on painting the window sills and doors as well as a Stoke City mural in the beer garden and the city’s crest on a wall. Stoke-on-Trent City Council ordered he replaced the garish red with more muted colours because the pub lies within the Hartshill Conservation Area. ‘We, the undersigned, call on Stoke-on-Trent City Council to reverse this decision immediately. ‘The Jolly Potters pub is located in a conservation zone – meaning the area has special architectural or historic interest.