Latest opening: Nairn’s
What: A new restaurant in the Stirlingshire town of Bridge of Allan that offers a creative-yet-approachable menu based on high-quality Scottish produce. Nairn’s is on the former site of Nick’s on Henderson Street, which suffered a devastating fire in 2021.
Who: For those that have yet to put two and two together, the restaurateur in question is Nick Nairn. Alongside his wife and business partner Julia, the high-profile Scottish chef, food consultant and broadcaster who now oversees a mini-empire that includes the Nick Nairn Cook School and restaurant in Port of Menteith and The Kailyard by Nick Nairn restaurant at the Doubletree Hilton in Dunblane. In the early 1990s, Nick became the youngest Scottish chef ever to win a Michelin star. This led to a long and varied career as a restaurateur and celebrity chef, but he is probably best known for being a regular on the OG Ready Steady Cook.
The vibe: The restaurant has been rebuilt from the ground up to Nick and Julia’s exacting requirements. Its interiors have been designed by the Edinburgh-based Pat Renson. The space has a relaxed, bistro-like feel with grey walls, green banquettes and polished dark wood floors.
The food: The menu changes regularly, but currently includes monkfish cheek scampi and tartare sauce; Macduff beef tartare, smoked mayonnaise, pickled wild garlic and sourdough cracker; seared stone bass with creamed curried mussels and cavolo nero; and hot raspberry souffle with white chocolate ice cream. Also on offer are a ‘crowd-pleasing’ selection of pizzas.
And another thing: Next month the pair will launch two shops on Bridge of Allan’s high street. Cook by Nick and Home by Julia will both showcase the products and ingredients used at Nairn’s and across the wider group. Cook by Nick will sell restaurant-quality ingredients alongside a ‘personally curated’ butcher and fishmonger counter while Home by Julia is an extension of the homeware store located at the couple’s Nick’s at Port of Menteith restaurant.
28 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan, Stirling FK9 4HR
www.nairns.co.uk
