A new restaurant and cocktail bar opened in Inverness city centre last week, bringing more than 25 new jobs to the area. Babette, based in the former Rose Street Foundry building, is the latest addition from Tony Pollock and Kevin Smith’s Moray-based Heron House Group, the team behind The Drouthy Cobbler in Elgin and Bonnie Beastie in Forres.
The site will operate as an all-day brasserie with a 50-cover bar area serving food, wine, local beer and cocktails. The group said the space will offer “a relaxed but smart setting” inspired by traditional New York-style dining rooms.
Head chef Darren Prideaux leads the kitchen team, bringing more than 30 years’ experience including time in Michelin-starred kitchens. He is joined by sous chef Daniel MacDonald, originally from Inverness, who trained at Rocpool and worked under Paul Tamburrini in Edinburgh.
The kitchen is overseen by executive chef Kris McKie, who has worked with Heron House co-founder Kevin Smith for over a decade. The menu will include a mix of Scottish produce, sandwiches, seafood, and dishes such as lobster and frites. DJ sets are planned every Friday and Saturday night, and bookings are already filling up for Christmas.
Picture: Tony Pollock and Kevin Smith