A popular Dumbarton cafe has launched its second outlet - inside the town’s football stadium.
Gayle McCallum, who owns You’ll Love Our Home Bakes on Glasgow Road, opened The Sons Rock and Rolls at Dumbarton FC’s stadium on Monday March 20) - with a new agreement between the club and Historic Environment Scotland hoping to attract tourists visiting the castle.
And Gayle hopes she can help visitors enjoy more of what Dumbarton has to offer.
She told the Lennox: “I’ve been doing a lot of work with the club recently.
“Dumbarton FC director Colin Hosie had been speaking to Historic Environment Scotland about Dumbarton Castle and they had said that, after the castle’s refurbishment, they were looking to promote it - but they don’t have any facilities for food and drink.
“They had asked about the stadium opening up more often as somewhere for food and drink where they could direct visitors to the castle.
“The club’s general manager, Antonia (Love), had already had that idea herself. The function suites are already there, and the club were really keen to get the community more involved in the stadium outwith matchdays.
“She asked me if I would like to run a cafe at the ground. That was just a fortnight ago and it’s grown so quickly.
“I can see the potential, there’s so much that we can do together so I said we’d go for it.
“I’m comparing it to when I had the tearoom at the Maid of the Loch. We had a lot of tourists and visitors to the area, so I think it will be the same down at the Rock.
“It will be people visiting Dumbarton for the first time, and as someone from the town I hope I can help promote the areas we have like Levengrove Park, as well as the castle. Hopefully some nice cakes and coffee will also help give them a good impression of the town.”
However visitors to the area aren’t the only potential customers, as Gayle explained: “It’s not just for tourists, from a local point-of-view it’s been needed as well” she said.
“There’s a lovely dog walking area by the shore. But there are no facilities.
“I’ve taken my own dog down there loads of times and thought that it would be lovely to have a coffee and just sit and enjoy the surroundings.
“We’ll be dog friendly, so even if it’s not a nice day then people can come in. We’re really hoping to be big with the dog walking community.”
Despite seeing You’ll Love Our Home Bakes hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown and cost of living crisis, Gayle added that she felt expanding was a step she needed to make.
She added: “It is a big commitment, but it felt like nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“My shop is going really well, I’ve got great customers and lots of regulars. We’re doing deliveries as well. But I needed this to get to the next level and try to make it bigger.
“We always have the same three points people make about the shop; one is the parking, one is that we don’t do breakfast and the third is that we’re too small.
“This new cafe has ample car parking, we’ve got 150 seats and we’re doing breakfasts. So I’m hoping all the boxes that aren’t ticked at the shop will be ticked at the cafe.”
Antonia Love, general manager at DFC, said: “Although Dumbarton Football Stadium is a football venue, we want to make it a facility for our entire community, and for visitors to our area.
“We are right next door to Dumbarton Castle and would encourage any visitors there to stop off for refreshments before or after their visit.
“Everybody, though, is welcome, so please swing by and support local business at the same time.
“Gayle and her team have been outstanding with their support for Dumbarton in recent seasons, and we thank them very much for everything they have done. We are excited by this development.”
The Sons Rock and Rolls opened on Monday, March 20, and will be open every day from Sunday to Friday, from 10am to 3pm.
The cafe will serve breakfast, lunch, home baking, hot drinks, ice cream, milkshakes and much more. You can sit in, take away, or order for delivery through Lomond Eats.
