A popular Kilmarnock nightclub is reopening – but as a tempura restaurant.
The former Bakers nightclub on Fowlds Street closed its doors due to Covid and now new ownership will be swinging the doors open with a unique twist.
The new eaterie, which will be named Bakers Tempura, will be deep-frying anything and everything from fillet steaks to lasagne.
A lot of work has to be done with initial renovations costing around £40,000 – but management reckons it'll eventually be a £100,000 refurb in time.
They are hoping to open the new venture on Friday, February 11, but they will won't rush the reopening if it's not ready.
A spokesperson for the restaurant told Ayrshire Live: "We just fancied the place as a nice restaurant, especially tempura, it's something different.
"We have experimented with stuff like tempura Jaffa Cakes, tempura Twix bars and tempura pickled onions before this. You can tempura anything.
"The menu is all but sorted, we just need the chef to have a final look.
"We are going to be doing tempura lasagne, which is something we haven't seen done at a restaurant before.
"There will be the classic things on the menu too with our twist: tempura hot dogs, tempura burgers, tempura fish.
"We will also be doing tempura steaks, sirloin and fillet, which is something different.
"The likes of the steak has to be a wee bit more controlled, you need to cook them first and then cook it the desired way.
"But you also need raw stuff there too, because people will want it blue or rare."
The spokesperson added: "It sounds easy, it sounds as if it's just deep-frying things, but you have to get it right.
"The batter has to be infused right, and we can infuse it to suit every individual person.
"We will also be doing vegetarian stuff, we have considered things like pickled cauliflower, carrots, things like that.
"Another thing we are thinking about is tempura tattie scones, we can do anything.
"As long as you cover it in the batter and get it straight in the frying pan you can tempura anything you want.
"You can ask us to tempura anything and we will attempt it.
"We will have all your classic desserts too — they won't be fried!
"We will also cater for vegans and vegetarians, any of these things can be made on request.
"It's something that will be good for the town, it's something totally different.
"We are going to have events too, we are hoping to have unique things on which will be exciting.
"We are hoping to have a 100-seater beer garden outside too, we have big plans that's for sure."
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