Latest news with #SundeepSalins
The Courier
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
High street round-up: Frasers Dundee opens, new Dunfermline world buffet and Montrose Chinese restaurant plans
Dundee's new Frasers department store opening and a new world buffet in Dunfermline are among the latest developments on high streets across Tayside, Fife and Stirling. The Courier has rounded up the latest from pubs, restaurants, shops and hotels across the region in one handy place. Our regular updates will bring you up to speed with what's going on in your local high streets and shopping centres. The new Frasers department store in Dundee's Overgate Shopping Centre opened on Friday. The shop is located over three levels in the unit formerly occupied by Debenhams. It combines Frasers, Sports Direct, USC and Game across 60,000 sq ft. Around 100 people queued to be the first inside Frasers when it opened on Friday morning, just before 11am. Shoppers were 'impressed' with the new department store, which they hope will increase footfall in the city centre. Matalan was rapped by Dundee City Council after carrying out unauthorised works at its city centre store. The retailer carried out work, which included moving checkouts, the erection of barrier gates and associated electrical works. A new Hotel Chocolat shop and cafe is set to open in St Andrews later this month. The luxury chocolate chain will open in the old Superdrug unit on Market Street on June 14. Dundee bar owner Andrew McMahon, who runs The West House and Top Dog Sports Bar, has taken over the former Boat Brae venue in Newport. The bar, which sits on the banks of the Tay, has been renamed Shoreline and opened on Friday. A Dundee pub is in line for a six-figure transformation after its roof was blown off during a storm. The Charleston Bar has been closed since sustaining severe damage during Storm Arwen in 2021, but plans are now being put in place to bring the pub back to life. The former Bridge of Allan Social Club is set to reopen as a community pub after major renovations. Over The Bridge will serve pints and pizza from Inverallan Road in July. World buffet chain Booffi has opened a new restaurant in the former Kinema building in Dunfermline. The buffet offers a variety of dishes from different cultures around the world, including Italian, Indian and Chinese. Perth's South Inch pavilion cafe has been reopened by the team behind Blend Coffee Lounge. Blend's Sundeep Salins says it's a privilege to become the latest stewards of a venue that holds so many warm memories for the people of Perth. A new Mediterranean restaurant has opened in the former Gulistan House in Broughty Ferry – but has had to change its name after a legal letter from an Edinburgh hotel firm. Iftikhar Ahmed had planned to open the venue under the name Le Monde, however, just days before opening, he received a letter stating the name was trademarked. A new Chinese restaurant named Panda Palace is set to open in Montrose town centre. An exact opening date has yet to be confirmed for the new Hume Street restaurant, which promises to bring the 'best of Chinese culinary traditions' to the Angus town.
The Courier
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Perth's South Inch pavilion cafe reopens with Blend Coffee Lounge team at helm
Perth's South Inch pavilion cafe has reopened with a familiar city name on the door. The team behind Perth's Blend Coffee Lounge have taken on the running of the popular landmark. Blend's Sundeep Salins says it's a privilege to become the latest stewards of a venue that holds so many warm memories for the people of Perth. 'We've only just opened and the response has been great,' he said. 'People remember the pavilion and the boating pond, and they're all saying how glad they are to see the cafe open again. 'It's nice to be able to breathe new life into the place.' The South Inch pavilion is owned by Perth and Kinross Council. It advertised for a new operator to run the pavilion cafe at the start of the year. The rest of the building is occupied by Fair City Juniors Football Club. Under Blend's management, the South Inch pavilion cafe will initially be open from 10am-7pm. Sundeep says the team will settle on the right opening hours for weekends once they've had a chance to assess demand. They are also keen to stay open through the autumn and winter. The cafe will sell light snacks, ice cream tubs, milkshakes and soft drinks, as well as Blend's famous coffee. Its toilets will also be open to the public. Blend started in Perth's Old High Street in 2013. The South Inch pavilion cafe will be its seventh outlet. The original coffee lounge is still going strong, hosting regular events including a Menopause Cafe and a popular street poetry night. Sundeep says the aim was to create 'a safe space for the city', and that's the goal for the pavilion too. 'We're looking forward to growing our community at the South Inch,' he said. 'We're hoping we can make it a place for all the people who use the park – mothers and toddlers, people who work from home, people who have come to the park looking for a bit of headspace. 'Really we're hoping people will come to us and tell us what they want.' The South Inch pavilion cafe has had a number of operators over the years. Sundeep says the Blend team are grateful to Perth and Kinross Council for all their support in getting the building ready to reopen. Councillor Eric Drysdale, convener of the council's economy and infrastructure committee, says it's been a pleasure. 'It is fantastic to see Blend opening on the South Inch,' he said. 'The council has worked closely with Sundeep, and Fair City Community Football Club who have leased the rest of the pavilion, to bring the building back to life. 'I am sure this will be a huge success and a great addition to the South Inch.'
