£5 million Brora community hub to get royal seal of approval

A £5 million new community heritage hub in Brora, work on which is nearing completion, is to be officially opened by the King.

His Majesty King Charles is set to perform the opening of the renovated and extended Old Clyne School on Wednesday (August 6) when he will also meet many of those involved with Clyne Heritage Society and the heritage hub.

It is a feather in the cap for the team that has worked to make the project a reality, with the cafe and retail space at the former school set to open to the public as early as this month, ahead of the museum’s opening later in the year.

Clyne Heritage Society, a registered charity, is behind the ambitious and long-running project to transform the historic, C-listed school, located next to the NC500 on the northern outskirts of the village, into a modern heritage hub.

Thurso-based O’Brien Construction started work to modernise and extend old Clyne School in April last year. One of the major difficulties they encountered was having to rebuild a central wall and chimney, as it was discovered that it was not keyed into the side walls.

Society chairman Dr Nick Lindsay said members were hugely excited that the finish line was finally in sight.

He said: “Our contractors, O’Briens, have done a really good job, but renovating such an old building has not been without its problems, and the completion has been slightly delayed.

“The eatery, along with the retail space, will open this month. It is still dependent on the contractors, so we do not want to give an exact date, but it will be mid-August. The museum will open in the autumn.”

The society plans to hold a grand public opening with live music, activities, and entertainment once the museum is complete.

The 50-seat, licensed cafe, called Clyne Kitchen, opens onto an attractive outdoor patio area with extra seating. The shop will stock locally sourced products.

Six members of staff have been recruited to run the eatery and shop, including chef Steven Oglesby, who previously worked at the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, for some 20 years.

They join six staff members already employed by the society.

“We are absolutely delighted to have Steven on board,” said Dr Lindsay, who revealed that three-quarters of the revenue from the entire operation was expected to come from the cafe and gift shop.

“The whole point of what we are doing is to try and make as much money as possible through the cafe, shop and people coming to the museum. All the proceeds go back to the community through our community engagement work,” he said.

He added: “In just a year, we have gone from being a volunteer-led organisation to employing six members of staff and now taking on another six staff to run Clyne Kitchen and the retail space.”

Dr Lindsay has paid tribute to business development manager Ross Lewin whose background is in hospitality and who will take on the role of heritage hub manager.

“Ross has been a Godsend and without his influence we would not have been able to open,” said Dr Lindsay. “We are very, very keen amateurs but Ross is a business professional and we are unbelievably lucky to have had his input.

“It was a stroke of luck that he arrived in Rogart after leaving his previous job in Norfolk. He has had an unbelievably busy 12 months planning everything from finance and budgets to teaspoons. You name it, he has done it!”

Mr Lewing said: “I have always worked in hotels and hotel management. It is important that we get the commercial side of the business up and running and profitable.”

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