MYSTERY surrounds the new owner of a prominent seafront building after a deal was concluded for its sale.

The old Morris’s Restaurant building on Gallowgate Street has now been snapped up after sitting empty since November.

The property was put up for action in December last year after The Seafood Café closed its doors just four months after opening.

It was understood that the owners had decided to sell due to ill health, however the property failed to sell for a guide figure of £175,000, half of the original asking price.

But the News can reveal that a deal was concluded in June by Glasgow-based Future Property Auctions. Details of the sale have been kept private, with the purchase price withheld and the buyer currently choosing to remain anonymous.

There had been interest in the site from national pizza chain Dominos, who enquired with the sellers about purchasing the town centre building - but it appears they have given up on the site.

The property was taken off the market to help facilitate the deal however talks broke down after a disagreement over car parking spaces - with 40 potential jobs that would have been created lost.

The councillors in question met back in March to try and rescue the deal, however, the News understands Dominos is not the new owner.

A source said: "The rumour is it is an independent businessman looking to renovate the building, but who it is and what he wants to do with it remains a mystery."

So far no applications for planning consent have yet to be made to North Ayrshire Council in relation to the site.

Earlier this month, concerns were raised about the state of the building, along with others in the same block.

Councillor Ian Murdoch says the block on the seafront need urgent attention after becoming 'a hazard and an eyesore'.

He said: "It doesn't do Largs seafront any good having this key stretch in such a poor state.

"I was aware that in that past a developer had been looking at the whole building area, including Morris's and making it into one big project, but that has gone quiet.

"Something now needs to be done in order to protect the building, which is badly exposed to the elements, before it impacts neighbouring properties."