TWO North Ayrshire businesses have merged to launch a new venture in Irvine.

The team from Gray's Kitchen in the Rivergate Shopping Centre confirmed earlier this month that they would be teaming up with former owners of The Shack in Stevenston.

The Three Towns business is still in operation with a new team in place, but now the old owners, Kevin Logan and Catherine Davidson, are back to work alongside the Irvine takeaway and restaurant whose previous owners also departed around a similar time.

Now rebranded as Loaded - Irvine, the joint venture is continuing to operate from the current Gray's premises in the Rivergate shopping mall.

A soft launch of the business took place over the weekend with a new menu available for sit in, takeaway or collection.

It has taken a a lot of work behind the scenes though both the former Gray's and Shack teams are very excited about the future of Loaded.

A Gray's spokesperson said: "We hope to bring you the tastiest, most bangin' scran the world has ever seen.

"It's been a decision that's not been taken lightly, but with a new brand and vision for the business, we feel we can finally pull this wee place up to where it deserves to be right near the top of Irvine's most popular food spots."

While the former Shack owners added: "There's been loads of hard work behind the scenes in the last three weeks to try and turn this place around and get it set up as something that not only our locals love, but that people will travel from all places to sample the bangin' scran.

"Honestly, it's been a tough few weeks but we're almost there, got the branding still to go on the outside of the shop. New menus for inside being printed as we speak."

Opening hours at Loaded are currently 9am until 4pm. Breakfast is served from 9-11am with the "fully loaded menu" available thereafter. 

Further information on the business can be found on their Facebook page at facebook.com/LoadedIrvine.