A leading Dundee restaurateur has hit out at high rates and over-zealous policing after two of the city’s best-known venues closed within days of each other.
As city leaders attempt to attract new business, both Byzantium, at the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, and fish restaurant The Blue Marlin have been forced to shut their doors for good.
The owners of the award-winning seafood restaurant, which was based at City Quay, the first phase of the Waterfront Redevelopment, slammed poor planning for helping to make business impossible.
In an open letter to customers, proprietors Steve and Alison Hyatt said spiralling rents, poor parking, bad access and excessive policing during the Commonwealth Games had all contributed to the eatery’s downfall.
The letter read: “We have had to come to the decision to close the restaurant due to a variety of issues.
“The ever-increasing costs involved in operating the business from City Quay £40,000 for rent, rates and service charge the long running car parking issues, where it was not being controlled to the benefit of the traders (and) constant changes to access at City Quay and the Commonwealth Games, have all contributed to the drop in revenue.”
Police closed West Victoria Dock Road the area’s main access point with concrete blocks and steel fencing across throughout the duration of the games.
The idea was to help protect shooters staying at the Apex Hotel during the competition at Barry Buddon.
The DD1 Restaurant of the Year also had to lay off two members of staff as a result of the drop in business caused by the security arrangements.
The couple continued: “The decision to close the restaurant has been very hard but it is no longer viable for us to trade.
“We would like to thank our many regular customers for their support over the last nine years and the majority of lovely staff team members who we have had the pleasure to work with.”
Turkish venue Byzantium has also shut its doors after five years. There is no indication that its sister restaurant, the Byzantium Caf at Monikie Country Park, has also closed.
In a message posted on its website, the owners said: “The Byzantium restaurant is now closed. We would like to thank all of our customers and suppliers who have been part of this very successful journey.”
Tim Allan, the president of the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said it was no cause for panic: “It is difficult to say why restaurants might not succeed.
“You have to get the formula right. I am sad to see the Blue Marlin not flourish. But at the same time, I cannot remember the last time a restaurant closed in Dundee.
“We have a number of establishments like the Castlehill Restaurant and the Malmaison that are really taking off. The Playwright is also thriving.
“It is almost certainly coincidence that these two restaurants closed at the same time,” he added.