Street closures ahead as Peaky Blinders film crew transforms Portsoy harbour
FURTHER street closures will be put in place around Portsoy's 17th-century harbour next week as a TV crew gets set to film scenes of a hit gangster drama.
The production team behind the BBC’s Peaky Blinders have been making preparations in the village this month for filming to get under way from Sunday, February 7.
Its harbour-front pub, The Shore Inn, which is currently closed, has taken on a temporary new look as the fictional "Hotel Lalanne".
Wooden cladding and outbuildings have been added to other harbour-facing buildings. Some have been aged with patchy repaints of murky off-white, and French signs have been placed above doorways.
A closure is currently in place at Shorehead, west from North High Street.
From Monday, February 1, Shorehead, Shore Street, Low Street, North High Street and part of Church Street will be closed.
And during the final part of filming access will be restricted to Barbank Street, on a section overlooking the harbour, as well as Lodging Brae to prevent crowds gathering to look on.
In a letter to village residents, location manager David Taylor said: "The extent and length of this closure is larger and longer than usual because of Covid mitigation and because of the ongoing art department work."
The production company has been liaising with Aberdeenshire Council since 2019 on the filming.
The Scottish Government allows film and TV production to take place under strict rules. All cast and crew will be routinely tested for Covid-19 and the film sets will be closed.
An appeal has been issued for fans of the show to stay away once filming starts to keep everyone safe and well.
Producers have confirmed the upcoming sixth series will be the last. Creator and writer Steven Knight has said the story will continue, however, "in another form".
The drama is set in inter-war Birmingham and stars Cillian Murphy as the troubled Tommy Shelby, a powerful member of the Shelby crime family.
