Six-figure expansion plans unveiled at popular Perthshire visitor destination next to A9

Family-run Taste Perthshire, based in Bankfoot just north of Perth, said it was preparing for a major redevelopment following strong growth from local customers and visitors from across Scotland and further afield.

The business has seen its sales increase by about a quarter over the last two years and is now investing in its restaurant, food hall and retail offering, backed by £580,000 in development funding from Bank of Scotland.

At the heart of the redevelopment is a bigger food-to-go area, serving freshly prepared hot food, filled rolls, sandwiches, pies and barista-made coffee. A new ice cream counter will also offer 16 flavours alongside waffles, churros and milkshakes.

A new glass-fronted entrance and improved layout will make it easier for visitors to explore the food hall, with more space to showcase food, drink and gifts from Scottish producers.

Owned by Calum and Jane MacLellan, the destination is known for its Scottish food, local produce and resident Highland cows.

Calum MacLellan said: “We’ve seen a real increase in demand over the past couple of years, which has been fantastic for the business but it has also meant we’ve started to outgrow parts of the existing building.

“This isn’t simply about making Taste Perthshire bigger. We’ve put a huge amount of thought into how the different parts of the business work together and how we can improve the experience from the moment someone walks through the door. The new food-to-go area is a big part of that.

“Everything will continue to be prepared in-house by our own team using high-quality ingredients, but we’ll have much more space, better equipment and a much broader offer. At the same time, the restaurant will be able to operate more independently as a relaxed sit-down experience.”

He added: “Ultimately, we want this to feel like a natural evolution of Taste Perthshire, giving people even more reasons to visit and return, while retaining the warm, family-run feel our customers know us for.”

Behind the scenes, the redevelopment will provide more room for stock management and packing online orders as the business continues to grow its digital offering.

Beyond the food hall, visitors can also meet Taste Perthshire’s herd of Highland cows, which previously lived at Scone Palace and have connections to royal breeding lines. The shaggy-haired residents can be admired from a dedicated viewing area and have become a popular attraction in their own right.

Moira Robertson, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, said: "Taste Perthshire has built a strong reputation with local customers and visitors travelling along the A9, and it’s encouraging to see the business continuing to grow.

“We’ve supported Calum and Jane through several stages of the business’s development, including the fuel station, and this latest investment marks another important step. The expansion will allow Taste Perthshire to make the most of growing visitor demand and continue supporting Scottish producers, while creating a strong foundation for the years ahead.”