logo
Carnoustie Golf Links snaps up popular town centre restaurant

Carnoustie Golf Links snaps up popular town centre restaurant

The Courier09-06-2025
Carnoustie Golf Links has bought a popular town centre restaurant in a move it hopes will restore the venue as a favourite with locals and visitors.
Links bosses have confirmed the purchase of the former Maxibell tapas bar at 5 Park Avenue.
It sits just off the High Street and close to the legendary Championship Course.
The premises have been a busy spot since its original days as the Golf Inn.
But the restaurant closed last year and was later offered at auction with a £150,000 starting price.
Links management are now developing new plans for the restaurant.
The move comes after major changes to the running of the Open Championship venue.
A new company has been formed to run the courses and resort hotel.
Carnoustie Golf Heritage and Hospitality Group Limited has promised huge investment to secure the return of the event to Angus.
And the Links said it is 'excited' about a comeback for Maxibell's.
A spokesperson said: 'This decision reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the community and preserving valued local institutions.
'Maxibell's has long been a place of connection and joy for many.
'We felt it was important to safeguard its legacy, ensure its continued success and to contribute positively to the community.
'We believe that this is a special opportunity for us to support something that means a lot to people.
'We're excited about the positive impact this will have both now and into the future.'
'We are currently in the process of exploring renovation works, including carrying out necessary surveys to assess the building and its facilities.
'We are working through this as quickly as we can and our aim is to re-open and welcome guests as soon as possible.'
CGHHG now operate the golf assets and Carnoustie Golf Hotel as a single entity.
In January, Angus Council agreed the biggest ever change to the way the council-owned courses are run.
The Links said a new deal was essential to secure the external investment needed for Carnoustie to retain its place on The Open rota.
A £3 million spa upgrade at Carnoustie Golf Hotel was completed earlier this year.
Links chief executive Michael Wells said the investment was a 'sign of things to come' from its new owners.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

JD Vance expected to visit Donald Trump's resort during Scotland visit
JD Vance expected to visit Donald Trump's resort during Scotland visit

Scotsman

time13-08-2025

  • Scotsman

JD Vance expected to visit Donald Trump's resort during Scotland visit

Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... JD Vance is expected to visit Donald Trump's flagship Scottish property when he visits Scotland later this week, reigniting questions over how the US president's private business is able to generate revenue via his government. The US vice president is expected to arrive in Scotland later on Wednesday, just weeks after Mr Trump made his own high-profile visit to the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As part of his trip, The Scotsman understands that Mr Vance will visit Trump Turnberry, the resort which has been owned by Mr Trump since 2014. One source at the property said staff were preparing for a visit by Mr Vance and his staff, together with members of the US Secret Service, describing it as a 'high profile' event. JD Vance is expected to visit Trump Turnberry as part of his visit to Scotland. Picture: Getty | Getty Images Airspace restrictions have been put in place around Turnberry, a four-time host of golf's prestigious Open Championship, ahead of Mr Vance's arrival in Scotland. A notice uploaded to the NATS air traffic service website notes that a 'VIP' will visit Turnberry between 14 and 15 August, with the UK transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, imposing the restrictions covering all types of aircraft. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The notice, which comes into force at 7am on Wednesday and lasts until 8pm on Thursday, also prevents drones, other unmanned aircraft, or parachutists from taking to the air in the vicinity of Mr Trump's property. Since Mr Trump's first term in office, ethics watchdogs have raised repeated concerns about the hundreds of trips he and his adult children have made to Trump Organisation properties, with the Secret Service running up significant bills at his properties. US president Donald Trump visited his Turnberry property last month. Picture: Getty | Getty Images Mr Trump's Scottish firms have received hundreds of thousands of pounds in payments from the US government, even when the 79 year-old or his children have not been visiting. In 2020, for example, The Scotsman revealed how the then billionaire US ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, ran up a bill to US taxpayers totalling more than £1,000 in a single day while staying at Turnberry. Mr Johnson enjoyed a £426 dinner with his wife at the property, and also spent several hundred pounds on its golf offerings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Trump visited both Turnberry and his inaugural Scottish resort, Trump International Scotland in Aberdeenshire, last month. During the trip he repeatedly promoted his properties, sparking criticism. 'We're at a point where the Trump administration is so intertwined with the Trump business that he doesn't seem to see much of a difference,' said Jordan Libowitz, vice president for the ethics watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. 'It's as if the White House were almost an arm of the Trump Organization.' Mr Vance and his family were in Kent last week, where they stayed at Chevening House, the official residence of foreign secretary David Lammy, before spending time in the Cotswolds. He met with Mr Lammy on Friday, when the two men also went fishing. The US vice-president is expected to arrive at Glasgow Prestwick Airport later Wednesday, and will be staying for at least part of his time in Scotland at Carnell Estates, an historic mansion house near Hurlford, East Ayrshire.

New bus service to Birmingham Airport from Birmingham
New bus service to Birmingham Airport from Birmingham

BBC News

time02-08-2025

  • BBC News

New bus service to Birmingham Airport from Birmingham

A new bus service between Birmingham city centre and Birmingham Airport should improve transport links for people in parts of Birmingham and cut congestion, a bus operator 17A service starts on Sunday and will run up to every 30 minutes via Small Heath, Yardley and Tile Cross, National Express West Midlands move comes after the firm extended the 97A route to the airport in July changes would mean a better link to the airport for residents in central and east Birmingham, Mat Hidson, from National Express, said. He added the new service would also help "to reduce traffic and drive down harmful emissions on our region's roads".Bosses at Birmingham Airport said they have been working with the firm as part of their moves to cut carbon emissions on journeys to and from the the new service, some journeys will also be extended on the existing 17 service between Birmingham and Tile Cross, to serve Chelmsley Wood every 30 minutes, a National Express spokesperson said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Trump deserves Open at Turnberry, says son
Trump deserves Open at Turnberry, says son

BBC News

time30-07-2025

  • BBC News

Trump deserves Open at Turnberry, says son

The son of US President Donald Trump says his father "deserves" to have his Turnberry course host The Open again - but will probably have left the White House by the time it Ayrshire venue, regarded as one of the best in golf, last hosted the world's oldest major championship in 2009, five years before Trump bought the in an exclusive interview, Eric Trump told BBC Sport: "It deserves it, and I truly think that my father's been a guy who also deserves it."He added: "There's no-one that's been better for the game of golf. He's been a cheerleader his entire life, because he loves it and he believes in it."In time that will be rewarded. We'll be given our shot and again it will be a great honour and a great testament to a great legacy when we do." But the 41-year-old, who runs the golf courses in his father's property business, said: "I think chances are by the time an Open comes back around, his time in government will be gone and we'll be back to being a strictly commercial company."President Trump's second term in office will end in early 2029. Host venues for the Open from 2028 have not yet been asked why he felt Turnberry had been overlooked over recent years, Eric Trump said: "I think the elephant in the room was, frankly, politics, for a very long time." 'Turnberry is ready' Earlier this month, the R&A said "big logistical issues" around local infrastructure had to be overcome before Turnberry could be awarded The body's chief executive Mark Darbon said the course remained in its pool of venues - but claimed there was "some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry".But Eric Trump disagrees, insisting "the actual infrastructure, the actual plant, the physical location is really second to none, anywhere"."You could host the Open Championship on that course tomorrow," he added. "It's impeccable, and Turnberry is ready for it."He added: "I think any challenge can be worked through and solved with smart people."In 2021, the then head of the R&A implied the course would not be restored to the Open rota while President Trump was associated with the venue, expressing concerns that the focus would be off the this year, Eric Trump met R&A officials at St Andrews to discuss the event returning to Turnberry - but does he think his father's divisive political position remains a concern for the R&A?"No, honestly, I think it's changed a lot to tell you the truth," he said."I think the calculus today is a bit different but no, the political side never came up but I think what the R&A wants is the greatest courses, they're focused on quality." Darbon has acknowledged that UK government officials have also spoken with the R&A about the possibility of Turnberry hosting The Trump hosted the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the course during a visit to Scotland - the country where his mother was born - earlier this week, and called for the championship to return, calling it "the best resort in the world".Asked about the issue at Monday's joint press conference, Starmer said: "The decision on The Open is not a decision for me."Eric Trump insisted he did not know whether his father had spoken directly to the Prime Minister about it, but claimed: "Turnberry will win the Open Championship at the right time, based on the merits of it being the greatest golf course on earth, that's what's going to win the day.""I didn't specifically talk about the championship, but I think he too realises the importance of that asset to the west coast of Scotland and, to frankly, the nation's economy."Trump was speaking after he accompanied his father to the opening of a new 18-hole course at the Aberdeenshire resort the family also owns near Balmedie. The Scottish government has announced that £180,000 of public money is being spent to help bring the DP World Tour's Nexo Championship to the venue next month."It's probably the last links course that will ever be built in the UK, and I truly think we have the best 36 holes anywhere in the world," Eric Trump resort is yet to make a profit, but he added: "Here's the good news. We don't give a damn, right. This is our Mona Lisa. If we spent $100m and never got a penny back, it doesn't make any difference. We wanted to do something incredible."The Trumps' development of the course has also faced criticism from some local residents concerned about the impact on the environment. In response, Eric Trump said: "We've done a hell of a job and for anybody to say that the Trump Organisation hasn't brought economic development to Scotland. I mean, it's freaking laughable, and it wasn't always easy to tell you the truth."Frankly, if we weren't as stubborn as we are, we probably would have thrown in the towel many times over."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store