By Andrea McCallum
A KIRKCALDY businessman has forked out more than £1,000 to have his restaurant used in the latest novel by one of Scotland’s best crime writers.
Dennis Alexander bid for the prize to have his eatery The Pancake Place feature in Iain Rankin’s next thrilling book.
The restaurateur footed a £1,500 bill at an event held at Adam Smith College in aid of Raith Rovers Football Club last week.
He said: “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope we are right in the middle of the plot.
“It will be great to have our name in such a prestigious book.
“A lot of the fans visit the places in the books, but I wasn’t thinking about making money. I was just thinking about my ego.”
Crime writing-heavyweights Iain Rankin and Val McDermid attended the bash and were quizzed in front of a 180-strong audience of fans, football supporters and local residents.
The auction raised an additional £2,400 after two guests paid to have their names used for characters in Rankin and McDermid’s next books.
Dave Somerville, Raith Rovers FC chairman, said: “The evening was a great success and all the feedback is that everybody had a thoroughly good time.
“We are still totting up the amount raised but it looks like we have exceeded our expectations.
“It was a success financially but more importantly the club was pleased to be a part of bringing an event like this to Kirkcaldy – it’s not the sort of thing that happens every day. It was pretty unique.
“People think football clubs are all about money, but we also take our role in the community seriously.”
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