Tasty proposal for garden’s pavilion

A MUCH-maligned waterfront pavilion which has lain empty since it was built could soon house an iconic ice cream shop and cafe.

The owners of Jannettas Gelateria, which has been a fixture i n St Andrews for more than a century, has submitted an application to the city council’s building standards committee to turn the controversial Slessor Garden’s pavilion into a gelateria and takeaway.

It is understood that Cupar-based interior designer company Supertonic For Design will carry out the works – which have been valued at £25,000.

The application, which was submitted to the local authority earlier this week, outlines that “new lighting, finishes and plumbing is proposed” in the pavilion – which cost the council £97,888 in total to construct.

In a statement, Jannettas confirmed plans were in place for the ice cream businesses to move into the empty waterfront pavilion.

Owen Hazel, the owner, said: “We have a huge number of loyal customers from the city and beyond, and are really keen to be able to provide them with our ice cream locally.

“Slessor Gardens is an outstanding site and I think people from all over Dundee will enjoy using the space – and of course trying delicious ice cream.”

The application comes just weeks after a full investigation into the pavilion project was called for by the

City Centre and Harbour Community Council.

It emerged that the council had held talks with 50 perspective tenants since its completion to no avail.

A spokesman for the council has previously stated that the local authority “continues to work hard to attract the right tenant for the pavilion”.

But the news of a potential development at the pavilion, which has remained vacant since construction on it was completed in October 2018, has been welcomed by fellow community council member Sheena Wellington.

Sheena, who is the secretary of the community council, said: “If Jannettas are going to be coming then that is great news.

“Slessor Gardens needs something like a cafe and takeaway so people can converge on the grassy bit and not for just a one-off concert.”

Jannettas confirmed plans were in place for a move into the pavilion.