A CYCLIST has painted the outside of his new tea room a "banana yellow" to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de France to Essex.
Get more ahead of the Tour de France hereFather-of-two James Gardner brushed on the first lick of paint to the River Farm at The Green Man in Howe Street, Great Waltham, on Tuesday.
"It's coming past our front door and that's what they do in France for the Tour de France, they paint buildings yellow," said the 33-year-old.
"I think we're going to paint some of the signage yellow too. Hopefully it will all motivate the cyclists."
James, however, must repaint the pub pastel green after the Tour has passed by on Monday, July 7, as Chelmsford City Council want the Grade II-listed building returned to its former colour.
"I don't think they find banana yellow too desirable," said James, whose six-year-old son came home from school comparing the house to a scene from kids' TV show Balamory.
"But the local response has been overwhelming from the village. I think at the moment we're a bit behind in the Tour de France celebrations.
"In Yorkshire they're painting bikes yellow and hanging them around the city."
The ex-great Baddow High School pupil bought the building from Greene King last year, with a vision of converting the four-acre garden into a small farm.
He will launch the site as a tea room on the day the Tour passes, also hosting a mini beer festival, local coffee producers, farmers and cake-makers.
