Film crews will descend upon a century-old Renton bar to shoot scenes for a remake of the 1949 classic Whisky Galore!

Actors will head to the Central Bar next month to shoot scenes for the modern day adaptation of the Ealing Studios classic, set to star Eddie Izzard.

Filming has also taken place in Ayrshire, Portsoy, in Aberdeenshire, and last week crews were also spotted in Geilston Gardens, Cardross.

David Taylor, location manager for Whiskey Galore!, told the Reporter: “For the film we needed a pub location for a Hebridean island gathering in the 1940s and the Central Bar is steeped in the appropriate atmosphere.

“I understand that the bar has been used as a location before – in Young Adam. With some help from our art department, it is very convincing as Todday island’s only pub. Owner Karen McCarthy and her staff have been very helpful to us.” The film, set in World War II, is based on a true story – and book by Compton Mackenzie – about Scottish islanders who attempt to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship. The island of Todday runs dry of whisky until delighted islanders discover a ship washed up in a heavy fog. The original film stars Gordon Jackson and James Robertson Justice. English commanding officer Captain Waggett – played by comedian Eddie Izzard – is responsible for demanding the return of the liquor.

Karen McCarthy, owner of the Central Bar, said several films have been shot in the bar, including Hope Springs, Young Adam, and Young James.

She added: “I am really looking forward to this one, it should be good. I know the original film.” McCarthy, who has owned the pub for 13 years, said the bar will not shut for filming on Tuesday, September 8.

She added: “We’ll still be open to the public from 11am to 11pm. The pub has not changed since 1890 when it was built and it’s very authentic. We sometimes get tourists, as we are part of the Campaign for Real Ale and the Pub Interior Guide, so we’ll have aficionados of pub intertiors coming to see the pub.

“By being in these films, it’s nice to promote the pub and to promote the area. We’re out of the Loch Lomond area catchment, so it’s nice to encourage people to visit Renton, and one of the last unchanged and indepdendently owned bars.” Crews also filmed in rooms at Geilston Gardens, which had been ‘transformed’ into sets for interiors in island homes in the 1940s.

Mr Taylor added: “The added bonus is the beautiful surroundings, and we will use the gardens for a couple of scenes.” The modern adaptation of Whisky Galore! is directed by Gillies MacKinnon, the screenplay is by Peter McDougall, and produced by Iain Maclean