Winter Gardens

Standing proudly in the middle of Rothesay’s immaculately maintained waterfront lawns, the Winter Gardens started life as an open air bandstand, and, indeed, the stage area dates from this time. Later, in 1924, Walter McFarlane’s Saracen Foundry produced the attractive circular hall in cast iron which enclosed the seating area. The building has a more angular sister at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It is an elegant design with Art Nouveau details, corner towers and a wide, curving expanse of windows overlooking the bay. Its broad, gently domed roof is supported by an ingenious system of exposed curving iron beams, which are functional, yet elegant. The original pay box is preserved inside and the building has been successfully rescued after years of dereliction to act as the focus for Rothesay’s consequently improved waterfront.

The Winter Gardens now contains the ‘Isle of Bute Discovery Centre’ - a tourist information and visitor centre - plus a cinema and restaurant.