Scots dessert chain to close after 50 years as dozens face job loss
A Scottish food chain is set to close all its branches. The Pancake Place will close its doors for good after more than 50 years. welcoming diners.
The business, which has branches in Elgin, Pitlochry, Dundee and Dunfermline, has entered liquidation, leading to 45 staff members to lose their jobs.
Gutted employees learned of the brand's demise on Monday, and signs are now up in the cafes to advise wannabe punters they have to go elsewhere for tasty treats.
An emotional goodbye was posted on social media by the Dunfermline branch, which has been open for 35 years. The Facebook post read: "It's with a broken heart after 35 years for me pancake place closed its doors yesterday.
"Thank you to everyone who came in for breakfast lunch and pancakes will truly miss everyone. A huge thank you to my staff wishing them all well going forward."
Customers flooded the comments with well wishes, saying hoe sad they were to hear of the chain's demise, and reminiscing about their experiences over the years.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The company's Facebook page states: "The Pancake Place is a beloved Scottish institution with 4 locations across Scotland, known for its delicious homemade pancakes and other comfort foods."
The Pitlochry branch describes itself on Facebook as a "cosy restaurant serving great food all day". It also states it serves "breakfast, lunch and dinner" and has daily specials and a kids menu
Perth businessman Blain Ross bought the company in 2024, along with a closely guarded secret - the restaurant's original pancake recipe from 1973.
Dundee site manager Sam Wilson previously said the shop was a nostalgia hit for a lot of customers. She said: "We get an awful lot of customers who say they used to come here when they were wee."
Thee employee said many of them had been brought in by relatives over the years: She said: "Their Granny would bring them in and there is a lot of goodwill for the place.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Chocolate lovers rejoice as new Cadbury chocolate bar scanning at B&M tills for just 89p
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS are filling their basket with a new Cadbury chocolate bar as it scans for just 89p at B&M. Fans went wild for the delicious goodies when they launched last month - and now they're being snapped up at a discounted price. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 B&M announced the new arrival Credit: Alamy 3 Chocolate lovers hailed the twist on a classic sweet treat Credit: Facebook / B&M Stores 3 B&M shoppers are racing to get their hands on the goodie Credit: Facebook / B&M Stores The Twirl White Dipped impressed chocolate lovers after being teased by the company in June. They are very similar to Cadbury's iconic Twirls - but are coated with white chocolate instead. "OK but we've really outdone ourselves with this one," they told shoppers. They described the flavour as "unreal, indulgent, smooth, swirly, creamy, melty, new, and mouthwatering". And now B&M have announced the sweet treat has arrived at their stores. A spokesperson for the budget retailer penned on Facebook: "Calling all White Choccy Fans!! "The Twirl White Dipped has landed in B&M - and it's a NEED!! 89p "Who's snapping this up?" Excited shoppers hailed the new snack: "I want one!!!" Another commented: "They are so good." Cadbury's New UK Bar, Nationwide's 5% Deposit Boost, and River Island's 33 Store Closures – Money News Today "These look very yummy," echoed someone else. A fourth agreed: "Really lush, had one on Saturday." Other Cadbury customers previously compared the latest launch to the Cadburys Flake Snowflake. Launched in 2000, the now discontinued bar featured white chocolate flakes coated in milk chocolate. The chocolate bars have also been spotted in local convenience stores, with Newfoodsuk post stating: "Wow, these are outstanding - closest bar you'll ever get to a Cadbury Snowflake! "We spotted these at our local convenience store!" Katya Savelieva, Brand Manager for Twirl at Mondelez International, said of the new bars: 'Cadbury Twirl has always been a fan favourite, so it's no surprise that limited editions like Cadbury Twirl Orange and Cadbury Twirl Mint had everyone talking. "With smooth white chocolate surrounding our iconic milk chocolate swirls, the new Twirl White Dipped is an indulgence you won't want to miss - grab it as soon as you can and experience Twirl like never before.' The bar first hit shelves on June 2, and since it won't be around for ever, sweet-toothed fans should consider stocking up whilst they're still on shelves. Twirl bar were first released in Ireland in 1985, as a single finger bar. They hit UK shelves two years later in its classic double finger form. Eventually the Twirl bar solidified itself as a fan favourite among Cadbury customers. It has since earned its place in the coveted Cadbury's Heroes tin, available at Christmas. The news comes as Cadbury officially announced it has discontinued a popular bar. This product axe was all the more shocking as it occurred just two years after the bar's launch. Cadburys fans recently shared their excitement after finding an item that is similar to another discontinued favourite.
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Scotland's economic growth 'weaker' than rest of UK as business 'falters' from Donald Trump tariffs
Sign up to our Politics newsletter 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... A slowdown in growth in Scotland's economy has been blamed on 'higher global uncertainty', with experts branding the recovery from the Covid pandemic as 'weaker' than the rest of the UK and 'particularly' linked to Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) has downgraded their forecasts for growth in Scotland, as Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes demanded 'decisive action' from the UK government to counter business uncertainty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It comes as First Minister John Swinney, writing exclusively for The Scotsman, said Labour could have avoided the "fiscal nightmare' being wrestled with by Sir Keir Starmer's UK government if they 'had the courage to do what the SNP have done, and ask higher earners to pay more tax'. Buchanan Street in Glasgow's city centre. The Fraser of Allander Institute has said Scotland's economy has experienced a 'weaker recovery' from Covid compared to the rest of the UK. Picture: John Linton/PA Wire Economics experts at the Strathclyde University-based think tank FAI highlighted a recent rise in inflation this year as having 'played a role' as the economy 'faltered'. Speaking as its latest quarterly economic commentary was published, institute director Professor Mairi Spowage said: 'After a strong start to the year, the Scottish economy has faltered in March and April and is essentially the same size in real terms as it was six months ago. 'Unfortunately, the wider business environment and global events are still taking a toll on businesses and consumers, which is having a dampening effect on spending and business investment.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The economic assessment comes after Mr Trump's decision to introduce a 10 per cent levy on most UK goods, including Scottish whisky and salmon, came into affect from April. The FAI now expects economic growth of 0.8 per cent in 2025 and 1 per cent in 2026, which is a slight downgrade from its April forecasts of 0.9 per cent and 1.1 per cent. The think-tank noted Scottish real GDP grew 0.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 0.7 per cent in the UK as a whole. The think-tank said: 'A pattern of lower growth in Scotland has persisted, leading to a weaker recovery from the pandemic than the UK generally.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Looking at the latest data, it found Scotland's economic growth had 'remained slow', with rises in the first months of this year having been 'partially offset' by falls in March and April. The report said: 'The slowdown in growth this year is largely due to higher global uncertainty, particularly from the announcement of tariffs in the US and elsewhere. 'With the CPI [Consumer Prices Index] rate at 3.4 per cent in May 2025 after staying below 3 per cent throughout 2024, an uptick in inflation has also played a role.' The think-tank said its latest forecasts 'reflect greater uncertainty and difficult economic circumstances'. The body also noted that businesses had reported a slowdown of activity in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The report said this 'decline in activity may reflect the impact of increases to employer national insurance contributions as well as uncertain conditions, particularly from trade and tariff decisions taken by the US government'. It said the 'difficult conditions for business have been echoed in the labour market', with the think tank noting pay growth has been 'slow' and the number of employees has fallen 0.9 per cent from last year. It also said there was 'some indication that the proportion of people living beyond their means in Scotland may have increased compared to this time last year'. Ms Forbes said: 'It is clearer than ever that Scotland's economy is being impacted by challenging global trading conditions and uncertainty – conditions mirrored across the rest of the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are taking ambitious steps to grow the economy by pursuing new investment, building export potential and driving and capitalising on the Scottish innovation at the forefront of many key global industries. 'But we are doing all of this without the full economic powers needed to fully address the issues facing Scottish businesses. We need decisive action from the UK government to counter the damaging economic impacts of Brexit and business uncertainty. 'This includes reversing its decision to increase employers' national insurance contributions which, as the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has highlighted, is severely damaging business confidence, investment, growth and jobs.' Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Craig Hoy said: 'While there's no question external factors are impacting Scotland's economy, it's clear anti-business SNP policies are also stifling growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The Nationalists' failure to fully pass on the rates relief available to businesses south of the Border, coupled with them making Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK, explains why the growth rate here is even lower than the anaemic rate Keir Starmer is presiding over.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Popular coffee brand to open specialist shop in major Scots city
It promises more than just a place to buy coffee A POPULAR coffee brand is set to open a specialist shop in Edinburgh. Nespresso is launching a brand new boutique in the capital's popular St James Quarter. Advertisement 2 Nespresso is launching a brand new boutique in the capital's popular St James Quarter Credit: Alamy 2 Coffee lovers will be able to sample new blends and flavours Credit: AFP - Getty The new 1,173 sq ft unit, located on the third level of the bustling shopping centre, promises more than just a place to buy coffee. It will feature a dedicated coffee bar where visitors can sample a wide array of Nespresso's renowned blends as well as exciting new flavours. Coffee lovers will also find a comprehensive selection of Nespresso machines and accessories to enhance their home brewing experience. Shoppers will also have the unique opportunity to participate in masterclasses hosted by the expert Nespresso team, delving deeper into the art and science of coffee. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE SCOTTISH SUN BIGOT Scots thug knocked out OAP at Orange Hall football awards do The boutique will also house a convenient pod recycling centre, making it easier for customers to dispose of their used coffee capsules. This announcement follows a series of exciting additions to the St James Quarter's diverse food and beverage offerings. The popular Asian-inspired restaurant chain itsu has recently reopened its doors, while well-known coffee brands like Black Sheep Coffee and Pret A Manger have also launched their outlets. Chris Pyne, Leasing Director for St James Quarter, said: "The signing of Nespresso brings another globally renowned name to St James Quarter, reinforcing its position as Edinburgh's prime retail and leisure destination." Advertisement Anna Lundstrom, CEO of Nespresso UK&I added: "At Nespresso, we aim to create boutique spaces that bring to life our commitment to innovation, memorable coffee experiences and the craft of coffee, and the new St James Quarter boutique is the perfect place to bring these values to life. "Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, we hope it serves as an inviting space for coffee lovers to connect with our brand." You need to run to the Argos warehouse - there's so many epic deals including Smeg, Nespresso and Apple products for super cheap A Nespresso spokesperson added: "Nestlé Nespresso SA is a pioneer and reference for the highest-quality portioned coffee. "The company partners with over 157,000 farmers across 18 countries through its AAA Sustainable Quality Program, ensuring sustainable farming practices while enhancing the quality and yield of coffee production."
