The art deco building on Links Parade in Scotland, which dates back to 1906 has been transformed into the Blu Bar and Restaurant by Angus-based artist Nael Hanna.
Mr Hanna said his long-term vision for the building included an arts studio where international artists could be taught by him and given space to exhibit their work.
There are also plans for an ice cream outlet and healthy takeaway at the rear of the building to serve visitors to the beachfront and paddling pool. Mr Hanna said the transformation had been a labour of love.
“I didn’t want to open a restaurant again but when I saw the building I fell in love with it and bought it within 48 hours,” he said.
“I was shocked that it wasn’t snapped up long before I purchased it.
“How many restaurants have a view like this? “The pavilion has so much history attached to it and because I’m an artist I wanted everything done properly.
“I designed the building and the long-term vision is to teach art here and invite international artists to come here on an exchange and introduce them to Scotland.” He said the food served in Blu would be locally-sourced with most of the staff living in the town.
The pavilion started life as a cafe and a venue for dances and expanded in the 1930s with the addition of a bathing station. It was marketed for sale by Angus Council in 2014 when it was vacated by the local rugby club after more than 20 years, and was bought by a private individual.
It remained boarded up before it was put up for sale again in September 2016 when Mr Hanna snapped it up. The entrepreneur came to Scotland from Iraq to study art in the 1980s after being awarded a scholarship by the Ministry of Education in Baghdad.
He made Angus his adopted home and is now regarded as one of the most significant contemporary landscape painters living in the UK today. He has won a number of awards and exhibited all over the world and his paintings are included in major collections worldwide.
by Graeme Strachan
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