Nude Gladiator's owner prepared for court battle

9 December 2025

Georgie DockerNorth West

News image — Owner Grant Adamson does not plan on removing the golden gladiator statue

BBC A man in a green hoodie reading 'Bulldog Forge' posing in front of a large gold statue of a roman male gladiator. The gladiator has has curly short hair on it's head and a fist raised in the air. It is naked and male but is blurred into the background in this shot. Blue sky and rooftops can be seen behind the big statue. — Owner Grant Adamson does not plan on removing the golden gladiator statue

The owner of a giant Roman gladiator statue nicknamed "Golden Balls" has said he has no intention of moving it from outside his shop, despite a council warning.

Grant Adamson, 60, was told to remove the 30ft (9m) golden statue from outside Grant's Bulldog Forge in Ince, Wigan, in 2022 - but reinstated it two weeks ago to spread "Christmas cheer".

The antiques shop owner received a letter from Wigan Council on Friday asking him to remove it, as it is an advertisement displayed without planning permission.

This time Mr Adamson is not planning on budging, and said: "It's go to court or remove it - so I think I'll be going to court."

He added: "They've said I can apply for planning permission but I won't get it."

Mr Adamson said customers think it is "brilliant", with some even campaigning for its return.

"It's a laugh," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "I wanted to put him back at this time of year when people may be getting a bit fed up because it just puts smiles on faces."

Front view from below of a large gold statue of a roman male gladiator has curly short hair on it's head and a fist raised in the air. It is naked and male and has a small visible appendage. Blue sky and rooftops can be seen behind the big statue. — Mr Adamson said he would not "squirm" in the face of monetary fines

The figure was originally used to advertise the 2000 blockbuster film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe.

More recently it has become a landmark feature outside Mr Adamson's shop, but not everyone is happy about it.

Mr Adamson said there had been some comments on social media about the appropriateness of the statue, but he had offered to cover certain parts up if required.

After receiving the letter from the council, he said he felt at a loss.

"It was never brought back to upset anyone," he said.

"If they had come to me to talk, I'm sure we could've come to some agreement.

"But now they're threatening me with a fine of up to £2,500 - £250 per day until it's moved."

He added: "If they think that's going to make me squirm, or push me to get rid of it - it's not."

'Pointless applying'

Advertisement permission is required for most outdoor signs and displays in the UK, and covers things like illuminated signs, hoardings and large fascia signs.

Consent needs to be granted from the local authority - but in this case, he has been told it is unlikely to be granted.

Mr Adamson said he was told by the council's planning enforcement that "the council does not consider it could support such a retrospective application for the advertisement in question".

He said: "I'm losing whatever I do - I could pay for a planning application but they're not going to grant permission, so it would be pointless."

A Wigan Council spokesperson said: "We have contacted the owner to explain the requirements for permission and will reach out again if necessary to better understand his intentions for the statue going forward."

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