Old meets new: former historic church in Perthshire transformed into restaurant

Chef/fishmonger Willie Little officially opens the doors to his new Littles Restaurant redeveloped from the former Riverside Methodist Church

Published 23rd Feb 2018
Updated 11 th Oct 2023

The new Littles restaurant in Rattray, Blairgowrie, has opened to the public.

Chef/Proprietor Willie Little, who is also an award winning fishmonger, has revealed the results of nearly a year’s hard work at the former Riverside Methodist Church.

The building is just over the River Ericht from the original Littles Restaurant, which is situated at Wellmeadow.

church

Picture: the restaurant still has many of the original features, supplied.

The pink sandstone building, completed in 1887, and most notable for its stunning commemorative stained glass window dedicated to the role of the Labour Corps in WW1, is now a stylish restaurant including a bar and seating area with comfortable sofas.

Many original period features have been retained, including the pulpit and font.

The new restaurant also includes a raised seating area where snacks and light lunches will be served.

The outside space has been fully landscaped to include a carpark.

church

Picture: Little's restaurant

Willie said: “I am delighted to announce the end of this exciting and challenging project.

"I’d like to thank everyone who has helped make this dream a reality – my team of builders and tradesmen have all worked extremely hard – it has been a labour of love to create a new use for this historic building and I am very excited about showing off the results to Littles customers old and new.

“We’ve fused old and new with state of the art modern toilets, and the new kitchen.”

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church

Picture: Little's has recently opened in a former church in Perthshire, supplied

From the outset of the project Willie had been keen to safeguard the notable stained glass windows in the Church, with the window commemorating the sacrifice made by Labour Corps in WW1 being the only one of its type in the British Isles.

“I am really pleased that the atmospheric grandeur of the Church, with these amazing windows, has been preserved.

church

Picture: Little's has recently opened in a former church in Perthshire, supplied

"It is really breath taking and it’s putting them in front of a new congregation to enjoy.

"I think diners will be blown away by this truly inspiring space which deserves to be retained in the community,” said Willie.

“I think we have created something Rattray and Blairgowrie can be really proud of.”

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For further details on Littles Restaurant check out their website.

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