TV’s ‘Balamory’ hotel gets new yellow paint job

A BUILDING on the Isle of Mull which featured as a backdrop for the children’s TV programme Balamory is being made over with a lick of yellow paint.

• Hotel made famous by children’s television show gets new lick of paint

• Mishnish Hotel, which features in Balamory, has been restored to yellow exterior after being black since 2006

The Mishnish Hotel, which was built in 1861 and sits along the waterfront in Tobermory’s Main Street, has been black for eight years but owners have decided to restore it to its yellow exterior.

It sits in the middle of blocks of private flats and shops which have blue and red facades.

The colourful buildings feature in the opening credits of Balamory and are synonymous with the fictional town, where characters like Miss Hoolie, Suzie Sweet and Penny Pocket live, as well as being pictured on postcards available on the island.

AJ MacLeod, 37, who, along with his cousin Robert, also 37, is part of the fifth generation of the MacLeod family to run the hotel, said they are a “beacon” for those travelling to Mull by boat.

When the hotel was restored to its original black colour in 2006, it is said to have caused controversy among residents of Tobermory and work is now under way to make it yellow once again.

“We decided to do it just to brighten the place up again,” AJ MacLeod said.

“The line of buildings along the seafront act as a beacon for anyone coming to the island by boat.

“The hotel was grey during the Second World War when Tobermory was a Naval base, but in the 1960s my grandfather Bobby made it more colourful.

“Everyone’s reactions in the town has been unbelievably positive and we can’t wait for our visitors to see it at the Mull Music Festival at the end of the month.”

Robert MacLeod said: “The black colour scheme reflected the heritage of the Mishnish and also weathered the sea front well.

“We did feel, however, that it was time to go back to the yellow to cheer us all up in these austere times.”

Councillor Mary-Jean Devon, who represents the Oban South and the Isles ward, said: “I am delighted to see it going back to yellow. It has that iconic look again and it brings back a lot of fond memories.”