THE owners of an award-winning Helensburgh restaurant have placed the popular eatery up for sale - and prospective bidders will have to fork out almost half-a-million-pounds to take it over.

Cattle and Creel, in West Clyde Street, went on the market last week with a guide price of £495,000.

The waterfront diner, which specialises in seafood and steak, has been run by Cara and Milan Nikolic since 2013 when the couple bought the former Garth Inn premises and combined it with the Cash4Clothes shop next door.

A £260,000 refurbishment project transformed the units into Cattle and Creel and the restaurant has earned four Taste Our Best awards from Visit Scotland for the provenance of their Scottish menu since it opened in December 2015. It was also twice shortlisted for ‘Best Scottish Restaurant’ in the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards.

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Cara, who also operates the La Barca and Padrone restaurants in the town with husband Milan, told the Advertiser: “We are looking at other business ventures.

“Cattle and Creel is a well established restaurant which is popular with locals throughout the year and attracts a lot of tourists to the town in the summer.

“We have 11 fantastic staff who would be an asset to any new owner. I imagine they would want to keep the same concept as it’s unique in Helensburgh and the surrounding areas.

“In the event a new owner has other plans we would happily place the staff in our other two restaurants.

“Meanwhile, we’ve just launched new lunch and a la carte menus and a new Sunday brunch menu. It’s very much business as usual at Cattle and Creel and we’re looking forward to a busy Easter and summer.”

Cattle and Creel, which is listed on RightMove and is being marketed by Christie and Co, is described as having “beautiful interior styling mixed with comfortable seating and quality fixtures”, which make the restaurant “the perfect venue for every occasion”.

READ MORE: Two Helensburgh restaurants shortlisted in Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards

La Barca, as revealed by the Advertiser last week, is in the running for another national award after being shortlisted for best world cuisine at the ninth annual Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards.

The final ceremony will take place at the end of this month with fellow Burgh restaurant Annaya’s also in contention for a top prize.

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