Owners of a famous music pub who answered a call to brighten up their town by painting its gable end yellow have been told by the council they must return it to white again or face a potential hefty fine.

Matthanee Nilavongse, better known to regulars as Gig, and Richard Walker, aka Waka, run the Golden Lion at Rochdale Road, Todmorden, which is immediately next to Fielden Wharf.

The historic venue is also very well known much further afield for its high profile music offerings – among stars who have filled DJ slots at the pub are Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), David Holmes (Oceans 11), Kevin Rowland (Dexys Midnight Runners), Irvine Welsh (writer of Trainspotting), Huey Morgan (Fun Loving Criminals/BBC Radio), Daddy G (Massive Attack), Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) and Steve Davis (World Snooker Champion and an aficionado of both European progressive rock and Northern Soul).

But the owners have been rocked by an official letter from the council demanding that they revert the colour back to white otherwise they might receive a hefty £20,000 fine, imprisonment or both. An online petition – almost 1,250 people have signed it to date – has been launched urging the couple be allowed to keep the pub with the gable end painted yellow.

The colour change has been controversial on social media with people both in favour and against the new look.

The pub, a former coaching inn, is a Grade II listed building which has all been painted white for years and the council says it has had complaints about the new colour with permission not being sought to alter the listed building’s appearance.

Gig says the Golden Lion were asked along with other local businesses to help brighten up their town, so they did just that by painting the gable end of their white building yellow, with the aim of raising morale at a time when people were worried about, and enduring, the coronavirus pandemic.

“Todmorden has much more to offer than its heritage, and yellow is the colour of happiness and hope.

“We are going to have the town planted with yellow sunflowers to greet us all when these dark days are over,” she said.

The council says it had to respond to the issue but hopes an amicable solution can be found with the owners.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), said: “After receiving a complaint about work carried out to the Golden Lion in Todmorden, we wrote to the owners of this Grade II listed building.

“We have a duty to investigate alleged breaches of planning control and works to listed buildings are a particular concern to us.

“We understand the contribution that this venue makes to the cultural and economic life of Todmorden and we would like to work with the owners to achieve a mutually agreeable solution.”

The couple say much of what the pub does is of benefit to the community and were stunned to be threatened with a fine after doing something they believe is positive.

Gig says their aim when taking on the pub five years ago was to turn it into a thriving community hub in what had become an unused building with the Golden Lion hosting community meetings, creative gatherings, live and DJ music events, UFO group meetings, Christmas Day Free Dinners and more.

It also includes an authentic Thai Kitchen and at times has included a micro pub within a pub. The couple have also opened a sister venue, House Des Lowe, on Rochdale Road opposite the Golden Lion.

During the floods, food and drink has been shared out to local people at their own personal expense, they say.

Gig says: “We’re not a brand, we run a space for people who have a dream and want to do things.”