The refurbishment of one of Dundee’s oldest traditional pubs, the Tay Bridge Bar in Perth Road, was celebrated at its official reopening on Thursday.
The Brig, as it is known by regulars, reopened with a special VIP evening to celebrate the lengthy renovations, with Dundee East MP Jim McGovern the guest of honour to mark the assistance he provided in steering the extensive makeover through the planning process.
Historic Scotland was also heavily involved in the negotiations over alterations to the pub, ensuring its character was retained.
Owner Jimmy Marr said he was delighted to finally finish the project after facing strict planning curbs over three years to get the planning application approved and get the renovations under way.
Mr Marr praised the contractors and workmen who had ensured it opened a week earlier than planned, and said Mr McGovern had played a big part in the planning process and refurbishment programme.
Mr Marr also revealed that, thanks to an appeal in The Courier, an architecture student had come forward and volunteered to create a scale model of the Tay Rail Bridge which will become the centrepiece of the pub.
”I had a bit of a problem finding someone to take it on,” Mr Marr said. ”But after it was in The Courier, a student at Duncan of Jordanstone with experience in that sort of thing and the facilities to create it contacted me and he’s agreed to take it on.”
The bar’s entire gantry, with its railway-themed mirrors, has been kept intact. Parts of the Walnut Lounge have also been retained and incorporated into the bar, which has been turned 90 degrees.
A few ”forgotten gems” were also uncovered during the renovation work and those have now been upgraded, including an old fireplace and a damaged ceiling cornice, which has been renovated.
”Moving the bars and gantry without damaging anything was an achievement in itself,” Mr Marr said. ”There’s a lot of history in the Tay Bridge Bar and hopefully people will appreciate what we’ve done to keep the traditional feel of it while making it a better place to go.”