No further action after 'Hitler birthday party' in pub

No further action will be taken after nine people were arrested on suspicion of celebrating Adolf Hitler's birthday in a pub with a swastika-themed cake, police have said.

The group were detained in May 2025 after online posts appeared to show members of the far-right group British Movement North West holding up Nazi flags and eating the cake at the pub in Royton, Oldham.

The arrests, which occurred in Greater Manchester and Southport, followed police raids which found imitation firearms and Nazi memorabilia.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that after talks with the Crown Prosecution Service, it "was determined that there was insufficient evidence" to bring forward criminal charges.

The nine people were bailed in May after their arrests on suspicion of public order offences, including the display of written material considered threatening, abusive or insulting or intending to stir up racial hatred.

The event was held in April 2025 at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Market Street, Royton, where owners said staff had been tricked by the group, who allegedly concealed their paraphernalia on entry and sat in an area not visible from the bar.

A website run by the neo-Nazi group described the event as a celebration of the "136th birthday of Uncle A", with members "planning their future BM escapades".

Adolf Hitler was born on 20 April 1889 and led Nazi Germany during World War Two, which caused the deaths of more than 40 million people.

A spokesman for GMP said: "We did seek early advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

"But following our investigation it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to enable the police to submit a file to them."

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