A WELL-KNOWN city restaurant has unveiled ambitious plans for Glasgow’s 'biggest beer garden'.

The owners of the iconic Rotunda building in Finneston will operate the Cranside Kitchen which will be a new free-to-enter outdoor venue, open seven days a week with a food market and beer garden. They claim it is the city's biggest beer garden.

The food market will offer menus from five of Glasgow’s most renowned restaurants including Rioja, Halloumi, Pickled Ginger, Kilmurry & Co, and La Rotunda with a single drinks and desserts menu.

It is hoped the venue can open on June 19 assuming Scotland enters into phase two of the route map out of lockdown.

Restaurateur Toni Carbajosa said: “We believe that a beer garden will be a great addition for the iconic site. If the First Minister stands up on Thursday and makes the announcement we’ll be ready to go – hopefully within 24 hours. We’ve been working with the local authorities and with the licensing board and are adapting our operations in line with Government guidelines. Our teams are excited to get back to work and customers can be assured that all the necessary safety measures will be in place before we open the public.”

Landscaper John Henderson has been commissioned alongside the team to design the site that is hoped to help kick-start the restaurant economy in the city.

He said: “The design proposals aim to create an attractive and usable outdoor restaurant and beer garden area. Cranside Kitchen is located just a hop, skip and a jump away from the River Clyde walks and cycle tracks and the area will continue to offer on site parking for customers.”

The centrepiece of the new Cranside Kitchen will be two ‘pergolas’ style marquees to cover customers, new trees and greenery, industrial walls, bespoke picnic tables and outdoor furnishings. The current Rotunda parking area would be altered into the outside venue, which would also be a serving space for food, while the proposed beer garden would be to the rear corner of the premises.

Strict social distancing guidelines will be in place, and there will be limits on numbers at any one time to avoid crowding. The Rotunda buildings bathroom facilities will be open for customers and safe toilet management will be maintained at all times. Hygiene measures are also being prepared to make the venue safe for all customers. Staff will be wearing facemasks, gloves and a very strict two metre distancing rule will be in place across the site.

Cranside Kitchen will operate on a first come, first serve basis, Monday - Sunday, 10am to 10pm at 28 Tunnel St, Glasgow G3 8HL.