WATCH: Virtual tour gives look round newly built Sutherland hall
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Facebook users have been given a virtual tour round the new build Armadale Hall, which has just been completed and is now ready for use.
A video has been posted on the hall’s social media site in which Joyce Campbell, chairwoman of the village hall management committee, gives a conducted tour.
And a proud Mrs Campbell announced that the first use the hall will be put to is as a vaccine centre.
She said: “What we are really proud about as a committee in Armadale is that this is actually going to be used this coming week for the first coronavirus vaccinations rolled out by the Armadale Medical Practice. What a fitting way to get started.”
In the video Mrs Campbell enters into a spacious lobby and points out an office space before walking into the kitchen area which boasts a large cooking range and plenty of work surfaces.
The camera pans through a serving hatch to the hall beyond, which is large enough to seat 100 people.
From the front, the hall has a beautiful view over Armadale Bay over to Strathy Point.
“Even in the depth of January, in the winter, it is a stunning, stunning view,” said Mrs Campbell.
Exiting into the back car park, Mrs Campbell points out the hawthorn hedging and, along the north side of the building, an area earmarked for two electric car charging points.
“They are going in during the next couple of months,” she said. “Hopefully that will give an income over time and that will certainly grow as more and more people transition to electric cars.”
She said the hall’s toilets, which have electric taps, and showers would be open to the general public as another way of generating income.
“We have not got many facilities in the area and we are going to try and make some money by having the toilets (and showers) available to tourists throughout the season. We are just going to see how that goes,” she said.
The hall’s heating is by air source.
Mrs Campbell concludes: “All in all, it has come together really well. I really hope it is not long until you can all come and join us for a good ceilidh and a good night out when coronavirus is past.”
She thanked the hall’s funders, SSE Renewables, Strathy North Community Benefit Fund Fund, Highland Council LEADER, Caithness and North Sutherland Fund, and the Robertson Trust along with local donations. More than £450,000 was granted.
Mrs Campbell also thanked the contractors involved in the project, the hall committee and volunteers who cleaned, painted and gave donations.
“Thank you all, she said. “This would not have happened without you all pulling together and making a huge effort.”
Facebook users were quick to praise the new hall.
Fiona Dempster wrote: "What a fabulous building and asset for Armadale and surrounding area," while Anne Waugh posted: "Amazing facility".
