Portsoy Harbour could become a “magnet” for Peaky Blinders fans after millions watched a climactic showdown filmed at the historic port.
Viewers of the long-running BBC gangster drama saw the much-anticipated finale between Tommy Shelby and Michael Gray in a transformed Portsoy on Sunday night.
It is understood that an impressive four million people tuned into the final episode of the show, where the picturesque port featured for the second time this series as a French outpost.
Portsoy Harbour played starring role in Peaky Blinders
The production took over the Aberdeenshire village for five days last February, with the crew thanking residents for the warm reception as they packed up.
In the months following, the Peaky Blinders also voiced their support for the 2021 virtual boat festival – which had to take place online due to the pandemic.
And organisers are now optimistic that the community’s connection with the popular show will buoy the maritime celebration.
When it returns for two action-packed days at the harbour in June, there could be more flat caps in the crowds than usual…
Peaky Blinders effect could boost Portsoy Harbour celebration
Esther Green, marketing coordinator for the festival, has said the show has brought a “buzz” about Portsoy which could last a while.
She said: “We have seen an impact on other UK destinations who have had an association with the show and we can only hope that it would be the same for Portsoy.
“We hope that this will be a magnet for tourists as Peaky Blinders has a worldwide following, especially with it now being on Netflix, which provides great potential for the village.
“It evokes a great image of what the harbour would have looked like back in the 1930s, a huge amount of work went into the production of this, and it was incredible how it turned out.”
Netflix’s The Crown filmed its fifth series in Macduff and Lossiemouth last summer, which is also hoped to drive tourism to Aberdeenshire and Moray during the summer months.
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, located inside Portsoy’s 17th century harbour, is set to take place on the seafront from June 17 to 19, the first since 2019.
Festival boss says return will be ‘priceless’
Festival chairman, David Urquhart, said: “The boat festival offers the chance for a reunion of the community for the first time in three years.
“The feeling of community pride as the festival returns will be priceless.”
Guest vessels and crews will travel from across Scotland to attend, and the festival is set to feature its largest food and drink offering to date.
Initially created to celebrate the town’s 300th anniversary, the festival began in 1993, and now attracts thousands of visitors from all over.
Tickets for the weekend are available to order now from the website at stbfportsoy.org.
