An award-winning Dundee restaurant is going full steam ahead with an ambitious £500,000 expansion.
Bridgeview Station is planning signal box and conservatory extensions to widen its service to its growing number of customers and enhance its iconic location.
The eaterie in the replica Magdalen Green station next to the Tay Bridge was opened 2009 by the Elder family who had no previous experience in the restaurant trade.
Seven years on it has become one of the area’s premier dining establishments, having won the small business prize in The Courier’s Business Awards.
It is also holds a coveted VisitScotland Taste Our Best accolade, and this year is nominated for further industry honours.
Barrie Elder, who runs the business with his brother Dane and father Dale said: “When we began our plan was to run a cafe.
“We could not have believed that it would develop into a full-scale restaurant and become so successful.
“It has been a steep but enjoyable and rewarding learning curve – and now we’re ready to go to the next stage.”
Plans have been approved by Dundee City Council for a signal box extension on the west side. The ground floor will contain an expanded kitchen and the first floor, with panoramic views over the Tay and Riverside area, offers use as a cook school, meeting room or extra dining space.
On the east side will be a conservatory extension to enlarge the dining area and cater for private functions.
Barrie explained: “We need a bigger kitchen to better serve our customers, and we think the cook school on the floor above will be a new venture in the restaurant sector in this area.
“We promote high quality local produce and the school will allow us to demonstrate to the public how we prepare the food.
“There is growing interest in cooking through all the programmes on television, and we intend to enter this market with our distinctive Scottish themed offering.”
On busy days the Bridgeview’s 50 places could be filled twice and diners who haven’t booked have to be turned away.
“With a bigger dining area and a bigger kitchen we will be able to serve more customers,” Barrie continued.
The Elders are also planning an interior re-design to reflect Dundee’s rich heritage, the details of which they are finalising.
Work will start later this year with completion scheduled for the summer of 2017.
