IRVINE'S trendiest new meeting place will open its doors for the first time this Friday.
SimpsInns will be swinging open the doors to The Potting Shed at Si! at 9am on April 14, following a £250,000 makeover of its existing site on Kilwinning Road.
The Potting Shed is located on the ground-floor at Si! and will seat up to 90 people in the completely reimagined new space.
It includes a dedicated dog-friendly area, relaxed and informal seating areas that are ideal for meeting friends, family and colleagues for coffee or brunch throughout the day.
The makeover was led by Glasgow interior design company, 3 Design Scotland.
Key design features include bringing ‘the outside in’ with planting and external finishes used internally; as well as new timber sheds to create zones for snug private dining and give The Potting Shed its new identity.
The Potting Shed at Si! will offer guests a casual, new experience at one of Irvine’s most recognised venues. Initial opening times are from 9am to 11pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
The ‘Boozy Brunch’ menu will be available 12pm to 4.30pm and includes a glass of bubbly on arrival; plus a selection of tasty brunch items; homemade pancakes; Mexican Eggs Benedict; and French toast stacks served with a range of toppings.
Full and ‘Lite’ cooked breakfast options include Robertsons of Ayrshire bacon; black pudding, haggis and pork sausages from W.W. Wales; plus The Potting Shed Speciality Benedict made with smoked ham hough and eggs from Mills Milk in nearby Dalry.
The new daytime menu features classic dishes and snacks served from 9am to 4.30pm, including all-day breakfast options, a range of freshly prepared bagels; sandwiches; baguettes; soup of the day; cakes and traybakes.
Available from 5pm to 9pm, the new ‘Evening Menu’ includes a choice of homemade Neapolitan pizzas; buttermilk chicken burgers; sharing platters of nachos and antipasto; small plates; salads; loaded sides; and a mix and match of small plates.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are also available.
A team of baristas and mixologists will also be on hand to shake up a range of cocktails and mocktails, including strawberry or mango daquiri; espresso martini; and Aperol spritz; as well as bottled beers; house wine and spirits; speciality coffee and tea; smoothies and milkshakes.
SimpsInns is the driving force behind The Potting Shed, as well as the group’s flagship venue, The Gailes Hotel & Spa, which is located just five minutes’ drive away on Marine Drive in Irvine.
Supporting around 280 existing local jobs, SimpsInns has recently invested over £3 million across its portfolio of venues along the Ayrshire coast to retain its high quality product and service, and the overall visitor experience.
The company's other visitor venues and experiences include Si! Spa at The Gailes; Gailes Golf:Leisure; The Waterside Hotel, West Kilbride; and the Old Loans Inn, near Troon.
Jack Simpson, who has managed The Potting Shed refurbishment, said: “We’re really excited to announce the opening of The Potting Shed at Si! this Friday and put our Irvine venue on the map as Ayrshire’s trendiest new meeting place.
“From all-day breakfasts to boozy brunches and a special evening menu, we’re gearing up to offer people a contemporary and relaxed space to meet throughout the day. Whether it’s a special family occasion, catching up with friends over coffee or a business meeting, we’ve created a flexible range of tempting menus to suit everyone.”
Jack added: “Following our six-month, £250,000 makeover, we’re very proud of this fantastic new venue and look forward to welcoming guests from around the region and beyond.
“With a newly trained team of 30 hospitality professionals at The Potting Shed, we’re committed to exceeding our guests’ expectations. We continually invest in our hotel and leisure facilities to make them the very best they can be.”
SimpsInns will also open The Terrace, a new bar and restaurant experience on the upper level at Si!, later this year. The Terrace will seat diners, both inside and on the heated outdoor balcony. This will be a social space for any time of the year and especially as a place to kick back in long summer evenings.
For more information about The Potting Shed at Si! visit www.siayrshire.com and follow on Facebook - www.facebook.com/SiAyrshire - and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/siayrshire.
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