Move over Hollywood: Cheltenham gets world's largest billboard
Cheltenham is to become the permanent home of the world's largest billboard, which advertises the bookmaker Paddy Power.
The 270ft sign has been in place on Cleeve Hill throughout the Cheltenham Festival and Paddy Power has now struck a deal to make it a permanent fixture.
The bookmaker says security on site have reported a steady stream of curious punters having their picture taken by the record breaking sign, which is taller than three double-decker London buses stacked on top of each other.
It dwarfs its "sister sign" in Hollywood by 45ft and in a press release Paddy Power cheekily suggested it might have the same tourism impact. "As the world’s longest freestanding sign locals believe it has the potential to become one of the country’s most recognised landmarks, even becoming a tourist attraction similar to its sister sign in Los Angeles."
Paddy Power also helpfully furnished us with the following sign stats. Buckle up...
Paddy Power sign
• 270 feet long (82 metres)
• 50 feet high (15 metres)
• Almost 100 tones in total
• 60 man build crew
• 3 years in the making
• Over 1000 man hours to design and build
• Landmarks dwarfed by the Paddy Power sign:
• At over 270ft wide that’s longer than the world’s largest free-standing billboard in Manila, Philippines (160ft)
• Taller and bigger than the Hollywood sign (45ft by 200ft)
• Longer than the famous Cerne Abbas Giant in Dorset (180ft)