Cairngorm Mountain resort given go-ahead to serve alcohol again at Ptarmigan
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Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd has taken another step nearer towards normal resumption of services at the resort.
The operator's application for a premises licence for the refurbished Ptarmigan building has been approved by the Highland Licensing Board.
It was not required whilst the restaurant at the top of the mountain railway was shut because of the safety issues with the funicular.
The resort has been given the go-ahead for on-sale hours Monday to Sunday from 11am to 11pm and off-sales Monday to Sunday for 11am to 8pm.
Board member Sean Kennedy told the latest meeting in Inverness: "I kind of know the area – the Ptarmigan of old – and to get the funicular back up and running and to be able to get a dram on a cold frosty winter's day, it will be a great asset to get it back up there at Cairngorm.
"I absolutely approve this and wish them all the best and that the railway get visitors up there before long."
Highland licensing board administrator Marjory Bain had stated in her report: "The premises held an alcohol premises licence between 2008 and 2018, when the premises licence was surrendered due to economic factors surrounding the closing of the funicular railway for repairs.
"The premises have been visited and are suitable for the sale of alcohol."
The Ptarmigan top station – complete with a new exhibition – will reopen when the Cairngorm funicular starts running once more after £25m repairs.
The mountain railway has been out of action since Autumn 2018 on safety grounds.
Work is now complete and CMSL is awaiting the go-ahead from the UK Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper to resume operations as the uplift is classed as a railway.
A Department of Transport spokeswoman said: "A recommendation of approval is with the Transport Secretary but there is no further update at this time."
