RESTAURATEUR Max Mason is hitting back at claims Oxford is a right royal party pooper by turning his eaterie into a giant Union flag.

The 35-year-old spent three days painting the outside of his Jericho restaurant in red, white and blue.

He is also creating two new sausage recipes to mark the Royal wedding – called Big Willy and Deer Kate.

On Wednesday, we revealed Oxford City Council had only five applications for street parties to celebrate the royal nuptials.

But it is not just Mr Mason hitting back at claims Oxford is a party pooper, with William and Kate’s wedding also being shown free-of-charge at the nearby Phoenix Picturehouse.

The cinema will be beaming high-definition coverage of the big day into the auditorium between 10am and 3.30pm on Friday, April 29.

Mr Mason, a former Royal Navy officer of eight years, hopes his pork and cider and venison with redcurrant meals will be a huge hit at The Big Bang restaurant.

His chefs use pork sourced from a farm near Windsor, while the venison originates near Balmoral in Scotland.

He said: “It’s a fantastic chance to celebrate Britishness. The wedding will be a very memorable day, so we thought we would get our customers in the spirit with two amazing dishes.”

Mr Mason, who used to own the Pot Kiln pub in Frilsham – just a stone’s throw away from Miss Middleton’s family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire – added: “Our country is flying the flag at the moment. The world will be watching over the next year or so, with the wedding and the Olympics.

“I was thinking that the outside of the restaurant was looking tired and in need of a lick of paint. We thought why not make it eye-catching?

“The colours are Oxford blue and pillar box red.”

“It took about three days, but I’m really pleased with it.

“I’ve been given a lot of positive feedback,” Mr Mason said.

At the Phoenix Picturehouse, patriotic bunting will adorn the building and viewers will be free to come and go throughout the event.

Cinema manager Suzy Sheriff said: “It will be a completely free screening, we just want people to come and enjoy themselves.”

“And for people who are really hung up on all things Royal there will be a screening of The King’s Speech with cake and bubbly at 3.45pm.”

Entrance to the Oscar- winning film screening will be by paid-for ticket.

In a poll on our website oxfordmail.co.uk, we asked “Should we celebrate William and Kate’s wedding?”

Some 31 per cent, or 169 people, said yes, while 69 per cent, or 377, said no.