Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SCOTLAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Friday, 3 March 2006, 15:29 GMT

'Balamory' hotel fades to black

Mishnish Hotel (centre) A landmark building in Tobermory is being given a make-over, transforming it from bright yellow to black.

The red, yellow and blue facades on the waterfront became synonymous with children's TV programme Balamory.

Characters like Miss Hoolie, Josie Jump and Archie lived in similar abodes in the fictional town.

However, having run the yellow Mishnish Hotel since the 1960s, owner Robert MacLeod has decided to restore it to its original colour.

Mr MacLeod's father was the man who originally brought colour to the buildings on the Isle of Mull. They were previously grey stone and black and white.

"It is a nice bold black which will make the flower baskets and brasswork stand out"
Robert MacLeod
Hotel owner


He painted his hotel pink and later changed it to yellow.

Mr Macleod, 54, said the building was in need of a "wee change" and that he was simply restoring it to its original colour.

But some Tobermory residents said the waterfront buildings featured on postcards and pictures around the world and their colour should not be changed.

Mr MacLeod said the building was originally black and had first changed colour 45 years ago.

"When my father painted it pink it was a real shocker, then he painted it yellow, which was just as much of a shock," he said.

"It is very strange given that the three colours of the buildings are on millions of postcards, as well as being in Balamory"
Olive Brown
Tobermory ironmonger


"Because it is yellow the colour goes flat with the salt and the sunlight so I decided to change it.

"It is a nice bold black which will make the flower baskets and brasswork stand out."

He added that so far, all the locals he had spoken to supported the idea.

But Olive Brown, who runs a local ironmongery, said: "I think it is a pity to change the colour of something so world famous and we are mystified beyond measure as to why it is being changed.

"It is very strange given that the three colours of the buildings are on millions of postcards, as well as being in Balamory.

'Quite upset'

"Think of other well-known buildings and what it would be like if someone just decided to change it - it is like taking the towers off Tower Bridge."

Another resident said: "The buildings are the one thing in the town that everyone knows and recognises.

"When you arrive by boat it is the first thing you see.

"It is only half-painted, so I don't know how many people know about it yet, but I think some locals will be quite upset."




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Children's TV hit Balamory to end (29 Apr 05 |  Entertainment )
Toy story for Balamory favourites (12 Aug 04 |  Scotland )
Balamory success story (23 Oct 03 |  Scotland )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Balamory
Mishnish Hotel
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©