NEWS: Chippy Brings Its Capital Tail To An End

MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
31 March 31 2010

A FORMER owner of a "chippy to the stars" is shipping out of Leith after just two years to go back to his roots in Fife.

Colin Cromar, 45, former owner of the famous Anstruther Fish Bar which counts Prince William, Hollywood legends Robert Duvall, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro and Rangers ace Ally McCoist amongst its former customers, set mouths watering when it was announced he was coming to Leith in 2008.

However, despite rave reviews, a customer service award and a recent upturn in business, Mr Cromar has decided to abandon his Tailend Restaurant & Fish Bar on Leith Walk in favour of a new place in St Andrews.

Mr Cromar said: "I can't be two places at once. It's a simple as that.

"The Leith business has been very successful but I'd like to go back to St Andrews, which is closer to home and nearer to the place where it all started in Anstruther.

"When we first opened it was right at the height of the tram works but it's cleared up a little since then and business has been good. We're hoping to sell it as a going concern as the place is always really busy, and it's getting busier all the time.

"We had hoped to keep it going, perhaps through my business partner's son Darren, but he's going travelling so we're going to have to pass it on."

Mr Cromar and his former business partners sold the award- winning Anstruther Fish Bar in 2003 in a deal worth more than GBP 1.5 million. He hopes to have his new restaurant up and running in St Andrews next month, but Tailend will go on trading in its current form until a buyer can be found. Estate agent Christie & Co says the restaurant boasts net sales of GBP 11,000 a week, and Mr Cromar and business partner Gordon Spink are putting it up for sale for GBP 950,000.

Gordon Burgess, chairman of the Leith Business Association, said the loss of such a prominent name was a blow to Leith.

He added: "The loss of any business, big or small, is not good for Leith but the loss of the Tailend, which opened in a blaze of glory two years ago, is a particular blow given the owner's reputation.

"The Tailend is the type of business that wouldn't really be affected as badly as many have been by the tram works as most of his business will be in the evening. He would probably have seen a few of the workers in during the day to pick up a fish supper.

"Whenever I've been in it's always been busy and I'll be sad to see it go. Ever since this whole tram fiasco started I've been trying my best to buy locally, or use Leith Walk services such as the local barbers to support the local businesses during this tough time, but I suppose this will be one less place to go."