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Area's yellow makeover dubbed 'custard corner'

Dan Sambell
BBC CWR
Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands
Kenilworth's 'Custard Corner'

A bright yellow public space has been ridiculed by social media users, who have branded it "custard corner".

The section of Station Road in Kenilworth attracted the unusual name after it was painted the striking colour.

It has been closed to motorists since the Covid-19 pandemic and was permanently pedestrianised in 2023.

A spokesperson for Warwickshire County Council said the work was carried out to "renew and refresh" its old surface, with yellow chosen as the most cost-effective option.

Jim Perryman sitting on a bench. He is an elderly man and he has glasses on. The ground is bright yellow.
Jim Perryman said the colour was "awful"

The BBC spoke to people after the newly-designed area became a topic of conversation on the Kenilworth Vibes Facebook page.

Some local residents said the colour was "vile" while others thought it looked just right for the summer.

Jim Perryman, who was enjoying some shade at the redecorated location on a sunny day, said the colour was "awful".

"It makes it look like a no-waiting zone," he told the BBC.

An area with benches and a large yellow ground. There is a car in the background and a coffee shop. It is a bright say and there is some shade from a high wall.
The new-look area has been dubbed "custard corner"

Mr Perryman, from Kenilworth, said he thought a pedestrianised area was a good idea, but the redesign looked like it had been done with leftover paint used for double yellow lines.

"I would prefer a green or even artificial grass," he said.

"Just something to make it look a little bit more like it was a lawn to sit by."

Robert and Barbara Wright. They are smiling at the camera. They have a black dog with them. They are sitting on the bench. The ground is bright yellow.
Robert and Barbara Wright use the spot often

Robert and Barbara Wright, who are also from the area, said they used the spot as a regular place to meet friends.

They said the council had also reduced the number of benches from five to two but they were not too bothered about the colour.

"I like it," said Ms Wright.

Her husband added: "It's something for people to talk about isn't it? [Custard Corner] is a good name for it."

A spokesperson for Warwickshire County Council said it had allocated £42k to "renew and refresh the old road surface".

"The yellow surfacing was chosen as the most cost-effective option," a statement read.

"The planned works are now complete although [the council] may look to install tree guards in the coming months."

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