Restaurant transformation could help revitalise town centre

A former restaurant on Kirkcaldy High Street is to be transformed into a hub that could help revitalise the town centre.

Fife Council has agreed to invest £145,000 in a business incubation space at the empty Made In Naples building in the Merchants Quarter.

Around 50 people a year will be given training in the hospitality and tourism sectors, while up-and-coming businesses will be able to trade from the premises.

It is hoped it will provide a stepping stone for traders who will eventually move into permanent town centre premises of their own.

Councillors on Kirkcaldy area committee were told the project would help support new jobs and sustain existing ones.

It will be branded under the title Enlightenments @ Adam Smith Merchants Quarter, capitalising on the name of the town’s most famous son as its selling point.

Hazel Cross, economic adviser with Fife Council, said the aim was to help deliver a better blend of retail in the high street which has been struggling with the loss of a number of businesses lately.

“It will help the small independent retailer who wants to move from home to high street,” she said.

“It’s an innovative project from Kirkcaldy Ambitions and it will create skills development and enterprise support.”

The scheme will have the added benefit of regenerating the dilapidated 1,300 sq ft Made In Naples building.

Welcoming the initiative, Kirkcaldy SNP councillor Rod Cavanagh said: “Flagship stores are closing one by one.

“Small boutique businesses are probably the way forward.”