THE owner of a bright pink bar accused of ruining the look of a high street has defended his business.

When 80s theme bar Billie Jeans first opened in Epping High Street last month it attracted various complaints about its appearance with one resident comparing it to a Turkish brothel.

But owner Gary Smith said he had taken all the comments in his stride, and he believed his new club was a credit to the town.

He said: “I don't know what the problem is- it's only paint. I think it's quite a nice pink.

“It was chosen simply because the colour scheme goes with the 80s theme. Pink and blue are very 80s. Also we wanted everyone to know it had changed because the last three places there were all the same with a different name.

“I wasn't surprised with the reaction at all, I quite expected it. However we would hope people have an open mind to these things.

“If you look at the high street you've got an Indian restaurant that's a lilacy purple, you've got Belgique which is orange, you've got a kebab shop that's bright green. You've got quite an assortment of colours on that high street. We're not taking any character away from anywhere.”

District council leader Di Collins who had been among the bar's critics, had said she would look into whether the new bar had broken planning laws, but Mr Smith said he had received no official complaints about his business.

He said: “Everyone has been really positive. We did have one neighbour come round who said it was disgusting but after she'd looked around she wished us well. Another neighbour said she was appalled but she's become a regular customer . It's the same with these people who've made comments. I'd invite them to come in and see us.

“We are nice people. We are not here to upset anyone and it's about time the venue changed. It had become a troublespot and the age group it was attracting was very young. We have put a stop to all that. Our age group is predominantly over 23s. There's no problems.”