Eastgate shopping centre has revealed further details about their upcoming food court refurbishment which is set to open later this year.
A variety of food choices will be on offer in a “food market style” revamp of the centre’s food court.
Part of the new offering will include on and off sales of alcohol after councillors approved a licence for the newly refurbished area.
The renovation began earlier this year after previous owners Loch & Larder closed their food court offering in February.
An Eastgate representative said the new owners Cru hospitality’s plans were “really exciting” and looked forward to the opening in a matter of weeks.
When will the new food court open?
Eastgate centre representative Niall Hassard told councillors the new food court will be opening at the “start of August.”
As well as a whole range of new food options, the granted licence means the centre could be open for both on and off sales from 11am to as late as 10pm.
However, Mr Hassard said the centre will not typically open later than normal, and the extra hours were for special days around the festive period or opening events for new stores.
Food court bounce back after closure
In what Mr Hassard called a “positive and shrewd move,” Eastgate bosses handed over the reigns to Cru hospitality earlier this year.
Their current venues include Scotch & Rye on Queensgate and the Wee Bar on Ness Walk.
Previous food court owners Loch & Larder, which is owned by Aramark left the space in February this year.
An Eastgate spokesperson at the time said they were “incredibly sad” to have lost Loch & Larder’s food court.
They opened in the centre in February 2023 and included five restaurants with different cuisines.
What will be in the new food court?
Current hints at new food offerings include a variety of cuisines from around the world for visitors to treat themselves.
So far, these include tacos, smash burgers, fried chicken and Detroit-style pizzas.
It marks a departure from Loch & Larder’s previous offering which had a local focus.
Mr Hassard told councillors that Cru Hospitality has “really exciting plans” to “invigorate” the Eastgate centre’s food court in the hope it will attract more visitors to the centre.
Mr Hassard said: “The plan is to offer a very much ancillary curated selection of alcohol to complement the food.
“It’s going to feel like a food market style with lots of different types of food coming and going.”
“If they are in using the shops, it’s somewhere they can go and have a bite to eat and if they desire, a glass of wine or a beer.”
Highland Council licensing officer Marjory Bain said the food court area could also expand into a takeaway delivery service and group events such as weddings, funerals, birthdays or retirements.
They also hope to open up the space for “live performances.”
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