Despite the already saturated takeaway market in Penicuik, a new fast food/restaurant hybrid eatery will soon open in the south of the town.

Midlothian Council’s planning department granted permission early November for alterations to a derelict, vacant unit at 2 The Square, allowing the owner to now operate a hot food takeaway from the prominent building.

The owners, Corfu Kebab & Pizza House, already operate a smaller takeaway from a neighbouring premises, however with the new permission they plan to expand into a two floored floorspace which will encompass a new takeaway area and ice cream parlour on the ground floor and a small restaurant on the first floor. A sit-in eatery offering will challenge those restaurants already established in the town, namely Giovanni’s Bistro, a mere two minutes walk from the former BNC Autoparts unit, and Little Italy in the north of the town.

Roberto Pia, owner of Little Italy, spoke out earlier in the year about a new Indian restaurant, Babu G’s, opening in the shopping precinct, stating that the increased strain on his business may only lead to the closure of further local restaurants which will struggle to cope with the addition of an additional sit-in facility.

A nearby café, Salsa’s Diner, closed after successfully appealing a ‘change of use’ refusal earlier in the year. Its demise could signal the future for the planned restaurant however Midlothian’s planners believe that it will add to the area. We’ll have to wait to see if they are correct.

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