Angus distillery’s boat restaurant bid cruises through council planning process

Angus Alchemy aim to create a unique restaurant at their moonshine visitor experience alongside the A92 between Dundee and Arbroath.

By Graham Brown

November 2 2023, 5:55am

Angus Alchemy co-owners Phil Paton, Martin Brown and Campbell Archibald inside the boat which will became a restaurant. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

A former Thames pleasure cruiser is to be converted into a unique Angus roadside restaurant.

Angus Alchemy has sailed through the council’s planning process to get the go-ahead for the innovative development beside the A92 near Carnoustie.

And the self-styled mixers of mayhem hope the first customers will be stepping aboard the Boathouse Smokehouse next spring.

Ambitious business

It’s a major investment for the business set up by three pals in 2020.

Phil Paton, Martin Brown and Campbell Archibald produce their own gins, and a host of intriguing varieties of moonshine.

They recently released Mistaken Identity Moonshine in a collaboration with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to support motor neuron disease research.

And Campbell says the boat is already a talking point even before work to create the novel eatery has started.

Angus Alchemy boat restaurant plan. — The retired Thames pleasure cruiser is berthed at Angus Alchemy ready for renovation. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson

Angus Alchemy boat restaurant. — How the completed restaurant will look. Image: Voigt Architects

“We brought it up a few months ago so it’s definitely been catching the eye,” he said.

“When we bought the distillery we really wanted it to be a destination for visitors.

“We built the moonshine village inside the distillery but thought it would be fantastic to have a restaurant too.

“On my travels I’ve seen lots of eye-catching restaurant conversions inside things like train carriages.

“But this is a bit different.

“With its glass roof and glass sides it will be a fantastic setting looking right down to Panbride and the coast.”

The boat is called Serefina – burning fire in Hebrew – and weighs more than 13 tonnes.

Angus Alchemy boathouse restaurant. — The Boathouse Smokehouse will sit beside the A92 Arbroath to Dundee road. Image: Voigt Architects

Arbroath firm Voigt Architects have created the stunning designs of how it will look.

Changing Places toilet

The boat will become the dining space alongside modular buildings for the kitchen area.

“It will also have a Changing Places toilet, which is a really important thing to us,” said Campbell.

“We want to create something unique and sustainable with local suppliers.

“It’s a big project but we’d love to have it open for Easter.”

Angus planning officials welcomed the idea.

They said: “The project is innovative and would create a unique offering for both locals and visitors, but in a manner that would not detract from the character of the rural area.”

It was approved under delegated powers.