New restaurant could deliver around 45 jobs

KirKcaldy: Councillors back £3m pub and eatery to help revitalise business park

A £3 million purpose-built pub and restaurant looks set to bring around 45 jobs to Kirkcaldy, it has emerged.

Mystery still surrounds the identity of the company behind the plans for a site at the John Smith Business Park in the north of the town, but councillors on the region’s executive committee have paved the way for the development after meeting earlier this week.

Negotiations are also said to be ongoing with a national travel hotel operator which would complement the facility, although nothing has been finalised.

It is hoped the new restaurant will breathe new life into the area, given the impact of the economic downturn in recent years.

Ken Gourlay, head of assets, transportation and environment at Fife Council, said the proposal has been part of the wider masterplan for the John Smith Business Park for some time.

“The company advise that approximately 70% of the revenue from the completed facility will derive from the sale of food and approximately 30% of revenue from drink sales,” he added.

“The facility will provide amenity for local residents and visitors as well as local business users and in particular will provide an important amenity for existing and future business workers within John Smith Business Park.

“The site benefits from having a particularly prominent position close to the entrance to the business park as well as being in close proximity to the main Kirkcaldy West junction on the A92.”

The location of the new development has been marketed by the council’s retained agents, Knight Frank, although they have remained tight-lipped on the company driving the proposals.

Welcoming the news, Labour councillor Neil Crooks, whose Kirkcaldy North ward contains the site, said he was pleased to see another positive development for the area.

“We decided to move the designation of the site to the new roundabout and we’ve been trying to make this sort of development happen for some time,” he said.

“It’s a prominent site, it’s a very welcome proposal and it will create jobs, which is great for the town.”

Councillors have formally rubberstamped the disposal of a 0.6 hectare site at the business park to allow the pub and restaurant development to progress.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that another popular town restaurant is to reopen in September after redevelopment.

A soft opening has been planned at The Steadings on Thursday September 10 for friends, locals and regulars, with a formal opening planned the following day.

We decided to move the designation of the site to thenew roundabout and we’ve been trying tomake this sort of development happen for sometime. COUNCILLOR NEIL CROOKS