Golspie Inn bounces back from lockdown with a new fresh look
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WITH the re-opening of the Highlands to tourists after lockdown, locals and visitors alike are able to get a first glimpse of a new look for one of Sutherland's oldest hotels.
For co-owner Alan Berwick, it has been a long wait to welcome customers and staff back to the Golspie Inn, which dates back to 1808.
"We had been planning to get into Golspie in March last year. We first went to view it back in October the year before, so it's been a while!," he said.
"Then the coronavirus pandemic started, so we waited until the season passed and then went in on the first of November."
One benefit of the enforced lockdown is that it at least allowed major renovation work to be carried out without interfering with day-to-day operations.
All 12 bedrooms have been redecorated and their bathrooms replaced and updated, with a new heating system installed to combine modern comforts with its traditional feel.
With social distancing limiting the options for functions, the function room has also been re-vamped and re-modelled as a spacious new bar area.
"It is going to be a nice bright area that is going to be ideal for customers travelling up and down the North Coast 500 as well as an asset for local people," Mr Berwick said.
"It's quite big and as we expect social distancing to be around for some time, we can have people in there spaced out rather than just having a very limited number of people in a small bar.
"After that, we also decided we would extend our deck outside because there was only a small area outside for outdoor activities and we've built on an extra 10 metres of deck to give space for 50 seats. Our garden gets the sun all day, so it's going to be perfect for outdoor dining."
Mr Berwick was planning a soft opening to allow the staff to find their feet, but some guests are already booked in.
"Our bookings are starting to look good. I think the number of people from elsewhere in the UK travelling to the north of Scotland will be huge this year, so it's all looking good. We just can't wait now to open and get settled," he added.
However, Mr Berwick is not just looking at the tourist market.
With its new menu from chefs Brian Donaldson and Richard Hamblin offering a range from light lunches to more substantial evening meals, all featuring quality local produce, he also hopes to attract a steady stream of local customers.
"The local community will be important to us, without a doubt," he stated.
"I've spoken to some local people and they've told me there is nothing for their age group to go to or anywhere for couples just to go out to and relax with a glass of wine and a meal on a Saturday night, so we hope to offer that as well.
"We have already taken on 10 staff, all from the village, and I don't think we are going to stop there. Once things kick off and bookings start coming in, we will definitely need another five or six for sure, and within a few weeks we will be recruiting again."
Renovation work also led to some surprising discoveries. Underneath the carpets workers uncovered an old coat of arms that was set into the linoleum half a century ago and Mr Berwick has now made a feature of it by preserving it in glass.
"The hotel has a big history," he said.
"I've been told the post box that's attached to it is the oldest in Scotland. There are obviously lots of claims of something being the oldest and I haven't looked into that."
Mr Berwick and business partner Cami Cozma also operate the Altnaharra Hotel near Lairg and The Stronlossit Inn in Roy Bridge, which are also reopening this month.
"It's been a tough year," he acknowledged.
"But one of the good things is that people from across the UK are getting to explore their own country. Last year we had a guy from Glasgow staying with us. He was 75 years old and he'd been to 50 countries, but he had never been further north than Inverness before and he was definitely going to come back."
