THE Fleece Hotel in Cirencester unveiled a striking blue paint job when it re-opened on Monday and the eye-catching new shade certainly seems to have divided opinion in the town.

The Market Place pub and hotel shut its doors for two weeks at the end of last month to allow for the transformation of the ground floor to take place.

Next door’s Starbucks coffee shop, also owned by Thwaites Brewery, closed down at the end of May, with the revamp seeing an adjoining wall knocked through to extend The Fleece.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

However, it is the exterior which has been painted cornflower blue which has set tongues wagging and a poll on the Standard website on Monday showed that 44 per cent of more than 400 people who voted did not like it.

In contrast, 40 per cent said they thought it looked good, with the remainder saying they weren’t fussed either way.

Royston Gay said: “The Fleece has struck a body blow by displaying the ultimate in bad taste and a complete lack of respect.

“Such an abomination for us all to suffer, yet another reason to avoid the town centre. We all feel sorry for those working opposite.”

Susan Hadden and Victoria Luckie were also unimpressed.

“The Fleece’s new colour is very nice, but not for Cirencester,” said Susan, going on to call the colour “inappropriate” and suggesting it should be repainted “in a more suitable colour”.

However, not everyone was displeased with the new colour.

Writing on Facebook, Katy Sirr said: “I like it. Brightens up the town. As we already have blue, pink and yellow buildings in the Market Place and a sand castle, it helps bring a cheerful aspect to this little town.”

Nick Pannell agreed: “There will be whinges, of course, but these will come from people who don’t like any sort of change.”

The Fleece was contacted for a response to the poll.