Europe’s first ever Project Pie restaurant will officially open in Dundee on Saturday.
The restaurant, in the former Santander building in Reform Street, will be the first of what owners John and Susan Canavan and Niall Howard hope will be dozens in the UK and across the continent.
John and Susan have imported the franchise which allows customers to build their own artisan pizzas from San Diego, where they lived for 35 years.
Pizza fans can choose their own toppings, from traditional favourites such as pepperoni to more novel choices such as roast brussel sprouts, before their pies are flash-cooked for two and a half minutes in a pizza oven with a temperature of 630 degrees Celsius,
The Canavans have relocated to the UK to launch the restaurant after agreeing to go into business with Mr Howard, the former chief executive of the Hakkasan Group.
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“This will be the first restaurant in Europe and we chose Dundee because of what is happening here with its regeneration and its future,” said Mrs Canavan.
Mr Howard, who is originally from Huntly but was educated at Abertay University, oversaw the construction of the largest nightclub in Las Vegas, the Hakkasan at the MGM Grand, but said he is just as excited about the opportunities Project Pie offers in Dundee.
He said: “We looked at Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen but Dundee has its regeneration going on and the right amount of footfall.
“Students and visitors to the city centre are all within walking distance, which is not the same in other locations.”