Americans force out Local Hero pub host

by Claire Hu

The owner of one of Scotland's most famous pubs, featured in the 1983 film Local Hero, has been ordered to paint the building white after a row over its blue exterior.

Brenda Kutchinsky has been embroiled in an 18-month row with planners since painting the freehold Pennan Inn, in the village of Pennan in Aberdeenshire, a shade of aqua blue to "add a bit of colour".

American fans of the Bill Forsyth film ­ featuring Burt Lancaster as an oil tycoon ­ complained, and despite not receiving a single objection from locals, Aberdeenshire Council and the Scottish Executive have now ordered Kutchinsky to repaint the pub white.

Her application for retrospective planning permission has also been turned down.

She says the row has contributed to her decision to sell up, and has accused the council of historical inaccuracy as other houses in the village are painted different colours and 30 years ago the Pennan Inn was aqua blue.

"Apparently there was a fan of Local Hero in America who was constantly emailing the council," she said.

"Because Local Hero was made here we are being forced to live on a film set."

Kutchinsky said she would wait until the police came round to "arrest" her before repainting the pub, at a cost of around £2,000.

The stress of the battle had helped hasten her decision to sell up, she said.

The pub, which does a good summer tourist trade and also has bedrooms, is taking offers of more than £250,000.