An Aberdeen kebab shop who became an online hit with their eye-catching light-up sign have been ordered to take it down.
Bodrum Kebab House, on the city’s Chapel Street, became an unlikely social media success story after spending more than £5,000 on a new hi-tech sign for the front of their shop.
A video of the LED display attracted more than 14,000 ‘likes’ on Twitter – and a further 5,800 ‘retweets’ – after it was shared by local musician Thomas Emslie on Friday.
However, reaction to the sign was mixed with some pointing out local residents might not be happy with the bright lights late at night.
The owner of the shop, Reza Nazar, 31, confirmed today that he has since been ordered to take the sign down altogether by council bosses.
Mr Nazar told the Evening Express he was not aware he had broken planning rules until after the sign was already installed.
He added: “I got permission for the new sign but didn’t realise it wasn’t allowed to be moving. Apparently it is a distraction to drivers.
“I spoke to a guy from the council who said it couldn’t be animated. Apparently they’d had some complaints.”
Aberdeen doesn’t push the boundaries very often but check out this fucking kebab shop. CGI donner!! pic.twitter.com/ohXoRgkjfD
— T_A_M (@Tamarionette) July 28, 2017
The takeaway reported a significant upturn in profits after the sign gained notoriety, with a number of hungry social media users saying they would be willing to make a special trip just to have a look for themselves.
One Twitter user wrote: “I live about five minutes from there. I might go tonight and just gaze at it in wonder.”
Another said: “I don’t know when I’ll finally make it to Scotland but I vow to get a kebab from here when I do.”
And Kizzie Mage said: “That’s so good I bet they made their money back in a week (or just the weekend). If I was out on the lash and fancied a late night kebab I’d go there just because of it.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “Representatives of the authority have been in communication with the proprietor and have asked for the sign to be removed as it breaches planning policy.”