Black Isle beach cure for Hogmanay hangover!
THE stalwart staff of Rosemarkie’s Beach Cafe will be braving the winter chill on New Year’s Day to welcome in Hogmanay revellers nursing the morning-after miseries.
Those taking to the fresh seaside air to blow away the festive cobwebs will be able to combine a brisk walk on the shore with a hot caffeine -kick — or soup, tea and home-baking at the revamped beach cafe as efforts are made to boost the village’s amenities funds at a time when its doors are normally tightly closed.
The cafe has served more than 10,000 customers this year and early in the new year work will begin on a new exhibition area designed to give visitors an idea of the village’s natural and human history, as well as walks and places to go in the area.
It is partly staffed by local youngsters, many of whom have never had a job before, and this provides them with valuable experience of catering and public service as well as some pocket money.
Cafe manager Philip Eley said: “If there’s one thing I would change, it would be to have a few more local customers. I am not sure everyone realises just how much the cafe changed inside last winter.
“We do have our faithful regulars, but the vast majority of our customers are visitors to the Black Isle, even in the winter months. So I’m hoping all Black Islers will put popping down to the cafe for an occasional cuppa and a toastie on their list of resolutions for 2013!”
The cafe will then close for 10 weeks from January 2 to avoid the coldest time of the year, reopening for business on Saturday, March 23, weather permitting.
