Chef Gary Townsend to launch first solo restaurant

Chef Gary Townsend is preparing to open his first solo venture, launching a new restaurant in the Glasgow suburb of Bearsden. 

Townsend has been head chef at Glasgow's three AA Rosette One Devonshire Gardens for the last six years, with his culinary career spanning two decades. He's worked at some of the UK's most prestigious kitchens including L'Enclume, Restaurant San Bains, Hibiscus and The Kitchin. He then moved to Scotland, joining the team at Restaurant Martin Wishart, Cameron House, where he played an integral role in it gaining and retaining a Michelin star.

His debut restaurant Elements will be a simple yet elegant fine dining establishment, using ingredients sourced from Scottish producers and farmers. It will also undergo a major £400,000 refurbishment before opening.

The 40-cover venue will open in spring, serving an evolving tasting menu and à la carte option for evening service, with the addition of a smaller four-course menu at lunch and a vegan tasting menu as standard. 

A carefully curated wine list will be offered, featuring new and world wines, including organic and vegan bottlings, along with a selection of premium non-alcoholic serves. 

Townsend says of the upcoming launch: "Opening my own restaurant has been a lifelong dream and has taken nearly two years of planning. My vision for Elements was always for us to be situated in the heart of a welcoming and tight-knit community. With close friends in the area, Bearsden has always felt like my home from home, and I couldn't think of a better location for us to be in."

You may also be interested in…