Work has started on the development of a new pub and restaurant on the outskirts of a north-east town.
The Harbour Spring lodge is being built near Peterhead as part of the larger Buchan Gateway scheme to convert disused land into a new shopping and entertainment district in the port.
It is believed that, once complete, the restaurant will create about 60 jobs for local people.
It is being constructed by the pub chain Marston’s which already has 14 other sites across Scotland.
Avril Lothian, the operations manager for the firm, said: “This will be the third site that we have developed with a lodge alongside the pub and it’s great to see construction underway.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity here and hope that, when opened, it will build a great reputation locally.
“It will be offering top quality, value-for-money pub food and an unrivalled selection of drinks including cask ales.”
The new establishment – which will also offer 38 beds for holidaymakers or business professionals – will have the capacity to cater for up to 150 diners at any one time.
The Buchan Gateway was first mooted in 2003.
Last year, it had been hoped that a hotel would be able to open at the site to offer 70 bedrooms for visitors to the town.
Developers envisaged a supermarket, shops and a petrol station at the site. But there have been concerns that the development will take people out of Peterhead’s town centre.
Stephen Calder, now a councillor for the port, objected to the scheme.
In a letter to Aberdeenshire Council, he argued a location
“I would suggest that locating, in particular, a licensed restaurant on the outskirts of the town would further adversely affect business within Peterhead town centre, and that it would be preferable to locate such a restaurant in the town centre,” he added.
However, the local authority backed the scheme in principle.
