New operators of Ben Bhraggie hotel, Golspie, to launch redevelopment crowdfunder later today
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THE team who are planning to open a new bar on the North Coast 500 will today (FRI) launch a crowdfunder campaign to raise the cash to refurbish the building.
Bruce MacGregor and Jo De Sylva, who run MacGregor's bar in Inverness, are hoping to redevelop the Ben Bhraggie hotel in Golspie by the end of next month.
Once complete it will have a main dining area and bar, a second smaller bar, as well as a number of other rooms and a large outdoor beer garden.
They will officially launch the crowdfunder to "build the bar at MacGregors at the Ben" via the MacGregor's Facebook page at 5pm today during their regular Live At Five broadcast.
Mr MacGregor said they were hoping to raise £25,000 and they were selling a range of things connected to the business which they would be running through Indiegogo.
He added: "It's a series of perks that people are being offered. For instance there is one at £500 which gets you a £400 bar tab to spend either in Inverness or Golspie, plus a T-shirt and the members card. It is people buying into the bar."
Mr MacGregor, a member of Scotland’s Blazin’ Fiddles and presenter for BBC Radio Scotland, said the bar would have a similar look and feel to the one in the Highland capital. He said: "It's going to be very similar to MacGregors, the look of the bar, the colours of the bar, the logos and the beer offerings. The menu will be very much the same."
He said they had already spoken with local suppliers and breweries and the smaller bar would serve gin and whisky. He said: "That will be really nicely done up as well so it will be very similar – there will be a piano in each room as well.
"There are two rooms at MacGregors in Inverness but there is only one bar. Up in Golspie is the smaller snug room which will have a bar in and that will take about 25 people and then the main dining and bar area will probably, depending on which rules we are following, take about maybe 80.
"Outdoors we've got a beer garden which is quite big. We've got plans to do a beer festival, a music festival and outdoor events there as well."
They are also offering smaller items for people from across the globe who might never visit the Highlands. Mr MacGregor said: "There are loads of people who watch Live At Five who might never get up here so there's a chance for them to get an I Built The Bar T-shirt and one of the MacGregors glasses so they are part of the clan."
He said they were hoping to have the bars open by the end of June and the other rooms open by the end of July – and they are still looking to recruit new staff.
"The building warrant is through so we are just waiting to get in there – the builders have got a period that they have earmarked for it so we are quite excited," he added.
