A Tayside businessman has told how his dream of opening a beachfront restaurant in Angus has turned into a six-figure nightmare.
Bubbling raw sewage coming up through the toilets forced Nael Hanna to take workers off site in Carnoustie after they were sick due to the “horrendous smell”.
Mr Hanna said it appears there has been a long-standing issue with drainage which he claimed has been “left unresolved” by one-time owners Angus Council and no works can proceed until the problem is fixed.
A drain cleaning company visited the site and reported the main drains underneath the council car park between the pavilion and the leisure centre must be cleared.
Mr Hanna said the problem has occurred as a direct result of the drainage system and he wants the local authority to foot the bill for the work to be carried out.
He has warned that he will be left with no option but to quit the site completely if they don’t agree despite spending £200,000 already on work to date.
He said he wants co-operation rather than confrontation and wants to work with the council to resolve the “significant problem”.
“We stripped the place back completely but we have been forced to take all our staff off site due to health and safety issues,” he said.
“We have a significant problem with sewage backing up to the pavilion to the point where workers had to leave the site due to the horrendous smell.
“Raw sewage came up through the toilets and one of our workers was sick twice and they can’t carry on until the council clear the main drains.”
Nael Hanna – who is also a renowned artist – bought the boarded-up beachfront pavilion at Carnoustie with a vision of transforming the disused landmark into a restaurant, art gallery, ice cream outlet and healthy takeaway.
The Beach Pavilion is an iconic art deco building dating back to 1906 that was marketed for sale by Angus Council in 2014 before being bought by a private individual.
It remained boarded-up before being put up for sale again in September when Mr Hanna bought it.
Mr Hanna said it’s a lovely building which he is bringing back into use that will increase employment and business in the area.
Built at the turn of the 20th Century on Links Parade, it has been a focal point for activities at the seafront for decades.
Starting life as a cafe and a venue for dances, it expanded in the 1930s with a bathing station.
The decision to initially sell it was made when the local rugby club vacated the pavilion after more than 20 years, having found alternative premises.
A council spokesman said: “The proprietor has been in touch this week and we have requested further details.”
