The founder of Scottish craft brewer Innis & Gunn said the regeneration and revitalisation of Dundee made it an easy decision to invest in the city.
Dougal Sharp said he did not hesitate when the opportunity arose to take on new premises on South Tay Street.
The company is hoping to open its second Beer Kitchen premises in around 10 weeks’ time, creating a mix of between 20 and 30 full and part-time posts in the process.
Mr Sharp, who founded the brewery 13 years ago, said Dundee’s vibrant social scene was a major attraction for his business.
He said: “We want to have a Beer Kitchen in every major city across Scotland and, indeed, in all the bigger towns.
“We were looking at our options and Dundee centre, which is undergoing such a massive redevelopment and which appears to have a fairly vibrant eating and drinking scene, was right up there.
“So when the opportunity came up to come to Dundee, the sentiment in the business was ‘why wouldn’t we do that’ given what is going on there.
“It is also great to take the business out of its heartland in Edinburgh.”
Mr Sharp said the new premises would provide an outlet for local brewers as well as its own in-house beers.
The move will boost the craft ale scene in Dundee which has grown strongly in recent years, not least by rival BrewDog’s decision in 2014 to open premises in the former Chamber of Commerce building at Meadowside.
Mr Sharp said he believed his firm had played a significant role in changing attitudes towards eating and drinking out socially.
He said he travelled widely and regularly found new dining and drinking inspiration in far-flung places.
“Innis & Gunn has been around for 13 years now and has been one of the companies that has driven that change,” Mr Sharp said.
“I like all beer I am sure that most people would say the same but what social media and this change in attitude has done is opened people’s eyes up that there are other ways of drinking beer.
“There is such a huge spectrum of flavours out there.”