Ambitious Lochinver redevelopment will give port new hospitality complex
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The new owners of Lochinver Larder have unveiled an exciting plan aimed at creating jobs, attracting visitors and giving an economic boost to the remote north west Sutherland port.
John and Sarah Snyder hope to develop a visitor destination by combining the Larder with next door buildings Ardvar House and the Caberfeidh Pub, which has been closed since 2018.
The new hospitality complex - Lochinver Larder and Boathouse - would offer a pub, restaurant, bistro cafe, delicatessen counter and bakery as well as a small microbrewery and fish smokehouse.
A planning application lodged with Highland Council states: “Our vision is to create a welcoming and unforgettable destination in the heart of Lochinver that celebrates the unique qualities of the natural area.”
A successful businessman, Mr Snyder co-founded Cambridge technology company Grapeshot in 2003 and sold it in 2018 to American corporation Oracle. Canon Sarah Snyder, who was brought up in Bermuda, is a peace reconciliation adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
The couple, who are understood to live in the Lake District, are heavily involved in the Cumbria based Rose Castle Foundation which hosts retreats and courses aimed at inspiring young leaders and resolving conflict.
Mr Snyder, who is originally from Scotland, and his wife, fell in love with the Assynt after being introduced to the area by friends. They own a house and land locally.
They bought Lochinver Larder – famed afar for its pie shop and also including a restaurant – in January 2020 from Ian and Debra Stewart, who founded the business in 1986. It is one of the largest employers in the area with 15 core staff.
The Larder is sited next to Ardvar House, previously used as accommodation by the business owners. and the Caberfeidh Bar which was once a popular place for locals and visitors to gather. The Snyders bought Ardvar Cottage and the Carberfeidh in December 2019, prior to purchasing Lochinver Larder.
Enjoying an enviable position looking over the River Inver to where it flows into the wider sea loch, the three properties are the first row of buildings as you enter Lochinver from the east on the A837.
A design statement lodged with planners states that it is intended to have a single courtyard access for both the Larder and the Caberfeidh - to be renamed the Boathouse - with the new entrance framing the view of the river.
Both buildings would be revamped in order to create a “modern and welcoming interior”.
An existing poor quality extension on the Caberfeidh would be demolished and a larger one built, orientated towards the riverside and sea. The new glass and steel extension would provide decked seating. The building would be returned to its original use as a bar and restaurant.
The interior of Lochinver Larder is to be altered with the existing bakery moved from the back to the front of the building and into the end of the existing conservatory space to make it more visible.
Three external seating areas are proposed - a terrace and garden next to the river, a protected decked area with fire pit and an enclosed area in the entrance courtyard,
On the Lochinver Larder website, Mr Snyder writes: “My measure of success for this adventure is the number of young children attending the local primary school. Can Lochinver retain more of its young people after school years and be the home for young families with attractive employment and more training opportunities on their doorstep?”
The couple’s agent and architect, Edinburgh based Kerr Blyth, whose mother hails from Lairg, said: “Feedback to the proposals has been tremendous and we have spent a lot of time speaking to a lot of local people.”
Members of the public are invited to have their say over the project either through a form on Lochinver Larder website or by commenting via Highland Council’s eplanning site.
