A Moray pub has unveiled a striking homage to some of television’s most colourful and enduring characters.
Punters at the Midas, on Elgin’s Lossie Wynd, are now enjoying their refreshments beneath a massive mural of The Muppets.
Owner Michelle Newlands said it had become a joke around the bar that she would now have Muppets to talk to, even when there were no customers around.
Ms Newlands added that the unusual display had been created after a framed painting of two of the popular Jim Henson characters proved a hit with visitors.
She explained: “We took over the Midas nine years ago, and we had a picture of Statler and Waldorf on the wall.
“My dad, Dave Hill, brought it back from holiday as they reminded him of two of his friends.
“It was pride of place on the wall, but when he bought the Station Hotel in Burghead last year, he took it there with him.”
Eager to forge a connection between the two premises, Ms Newlands subsequently arranged to have an image of the characters – who are famed for heckling the Muppets with scathing put-downs – painted directly onto the wall.
She added: “A customer of ours has just completed an art degree at Moray College, and she agreed to do it free of charge.
“She was just happy that her work would be on display. And things just went from there, it went from being a painting of two Muppets to a whole wall with all of the best-known characters.”
Artist Anna Zsofia Kajos, who is from Hungary, was unaware of the famous creations, prior to starting the project.
But she watched a few episodes of The Muppet Show to familiarise herself with their movements before beginning the art venture.
Ms Newlands is optimistic the unique attraction will draw more customers into the Midas. And she said an art enthusiast from Dundee had already arranged a visit to see the work.
The licensee added: “The mural is certainly quite unique, our artist has done a fantastic job.
“It adds a lot of character to the pub, and brightens it up a l. I like to think every customer can relate to at least one of the Muppets.”
