Pavilion given a new lease of life as café after decades in disrepair
A TENNIS pavilion that has lain derelict for decades is to be brought back into use after two local residents decided to restore it to its former glory.
Mairi Darroch and Suzanne Stevenson will open The Dandelion Café in Newlands Park on the south side of Glasgow later this month after revamping the 1920s structure.
The pair, who previously ran a bakery company together, hope the new café will provide a hub for the local community and attract visitors from across the city.
Glasgow City Council has provided a long-term lease on the building, allowing work to begin on bringing back some of its original features, including its hand-crafted window panes.
Local residents led a long campaign to have the tennis courts refurbished and are now set to enjoy the new 40-seater arts and crafts revival café.
Ms Darroch, 44, and Ms Stevenson, 45, both grew up in the Newlands area and still live in the south side.
Mrs Darroch said: “I have many happy memories of playing in Newlands Park, learning to play tennis and fishing for tadpoles in the pond.
“We have been looking for the perfect premises to open our business but nothing seemed quite right so when the pavilion became available we were delighted.
“I always loved the pavilion building and we wanted to bring it back to life as a fabulous, friendly café at the heart of our community.
“We’ve got a fantastic team and great recipes at Dandelion Café and we can’t wait to welcome ou r first customers.”
The inside of the building will feature upcycled items including an old church pew and hand-painted murals completed by a theatre set designer.
The new enterprise will house a bakery and ethically sourced produce from local suppliers.
Ms Stevenson said: “Mairi and I share a passion for fabulous food, outstanding customer service and beautiful, unusual things.
“We travelled the world professionally for years in previous jobs and we’ve brought the best of what we saw and experienced back to our home city, especially from South Asia where the packaging of items really inspired us.
“Our philosophy is very simple – run an ethical business, keep the recipes straightforward and only use the finest, freshest ingredients.”
The new café will also provide two-year, front-ofhouse apprenticeships for two members of staff.