Large Mug Reinstalled Following Storm Darragh Damage

A substantial mug that was dislodged from the side of a building during Storm Darragh has been reinstated. This large polystyrene mug, featuring illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, had decorated The High Flyer in Ely, Cambridgeshire, since 2021. Nevertheless, it was carried away by strong winds on Saturday, coming to rest on the grass adjacent to the pub and coffee shop, and sustaining a broken handle. The mug, which is central to an ongoing planning dispute with East Cambridgeshire District Council, is scheduled for removal in January. Despite this, it was re-erected on Wednesday, ahead of the festive season. East Cambridgeshire District Council’s involvement began soon after the mug’s initial installation, following resident feedback describing it as “hideous” and a “monstrosity”. Conversely, some individuals expressed pleasure at the Newnham Street addition, characterizing it as “quirky”. It received temporary planning permission and was vividly painted with scenes from the well-known children’s book. However, its permanent removal has been set for early January. Jan Grochol, general manager of The High Flyer, reported that several individuals expressed being “so happy” upon the arrival of a maintenance team on Wednesday to re-establish the mug. He stated, “We just want people to know we are doing all we can to keep it here permanently.”