Top banana? it's a matter of opinion

Rochdale Observer Saturday 1st March 2003

Words and picture by Ben Turner

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TAKE your eyes off the wheel on the drive through Smallbridge and you could suffer a brief bout of yellow fever. The   Sandknockers pub in Halifax Road has gone for a banana-bright makeover that is turning heads and adding a new challenge to the Highway Code. The village has a new landmark, but it is not finished yet. In the next fortnight, bold green spotlights are set to project huge green and black lettering   spelling   out Sandknockers on three sides of the pub.

The unique colour scheme is the brainchild of   landlord   Julian Farnell, who has surely succeeded in his aim of breaking with normal pub practice. Mr Farnell, who has been running the pub for three months, said: "I want to get away from the traditional nonsense - the hanging baskets and flowers. "You go to Cornwall or Ireland and every build- ing and every house is a different colour. It looks magnificent." Chris Pearce, a regular customer at the Sandknockers, thinks the

paint job will bring a bit of Ibiza to Rochdale. "Just wait for the sum- mer. It's about time this place was woken up and this is going to put the spring back into the vil- lage," he said. "Sitting outside with the sun beaming down - ittakes the anger away, as well, doesn't it?" The radical change has not pleased everyone, however. Patrick Carroll, a regular at the Bulls Head pub across the road, said it was "absolutely terrible". "It's not right for a pub - it should have stayed white," he added. Grandmother Gwen

Meyrick, who walks past the pub to get home, said: "I think it is really a bit bright. But I guess it will be a talking point." Mr Farnell said trade had been up since the painting began. He is confident that he won't lose any customers over it. "Times have changed and   everything   has moved on," he said. "I want to attract younger people and families, but I'm not looking to do anything major to disrupt traffic. I am expecting a call from the council, though."

BOLD statement... the Sandknockers pub amidst a startling transformation to a yellow and green landmark