Well-loved Newport-on-Tay restaurant Boat Brae has suffered a setback in its bid to reopen. Dundonian chef Elaine Chalmers announced last week she would be “taking over” the Fife eatery. In a now deleted post on Instagram, Elaine posted an image of a Boat Brae menu and a set of keys.
This image is thought to have been taken at the restaurant. The caption read: “Finally got the keys, taking over, opening soon.” “Opening soon” signs also appeared in the restaurant’s windows.
However, The Courier understands that Elaine has changed her mind on . The chef declined to comment further. The news will come as a blow to residents in Newport-on-Tay, Wormit and Tayport, who were keen for another restaurant in the area.
A former Boat Brae regular said: “This is a real shame. It’s such a special spot and people were excited about the reopening. “The pub still has the opening soon posters up in the windows, so there will be disappointment.
“That said, it’s clearly very difficult to run a hospitality business at the moment so there’s absolutely no shame in changing plans, if that’s what’s happened here. “You just wish them all the best. “Hopefully there’s still someone else out there interested and able to make a go of the business.
” All bookings at Boat Brae were cancelled back in February this year when the family business announced the “difficult decision” that the . A post on social media from restaurant owners at the time Alan, Moira and Fiona .
