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Ambitious plans lodged for eyesore hotel bar in Cannich


By Val Sweeney

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The Glen Affric bar and hotel in Cannich.
The Glen Affric bar and hotel in Cannich.

Plans have been lodged to demolish the two-storey bar adjoining the Glen Affric Hotel in Cannich and create a single-storey micro-brewery and public bar.

The building is at the entrance to the village – which is the gateway to Glen Affric – but has been an empty eyesore for several years.

The application has been submitted to Highland Council on behalf of Glen Affric Brewery which brews beer at its plant in Birkenhead on the Wirral.

According to its website, the owners have long held plans to open a brewery in the Highlands where they have a family holiday home.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as we’d hoped, mainly due to the growing scope of what we wanted to achieve with the brewery far exceeding the limits of what was feasible in the bar,” the website states.

“So, we decided to look for a home on the Wirral where we’ve lived since 1993. We eventually found our home in Birkenhead and couldn’t be happier.”

But they still hoped to build a facility aimed at the tourist market and to educate people about craft beer at their original choice of location.

One local resident said the former bar was an eyesore.

“It has been empty for years,” said the resident who did not wish to be named.

“It is so neglected. It is the first thing you see when you come into the village. It doesn’t present a very good image.”

The council’s transport planning team has asked for further details about car parking stating it would expect at least 12 spaces although the plans only show seven.

There are also concerns about pedestrian access particularly for people in wheelchairs or pushing prams.

The original hotel dates to 1862 but there were extensive additions in the 20th century.

Three years ago, former owner Louise Hodgson was evicted from the building which had no running water or electricity.

The former science teacher used to own the 23-bedroom hotel but her estate was sequestrated in 2007 by an Inverness sheriff as she owed Highland Council thousands of pounds in unpaid council tax and business rates.


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