Cawdor Castle aims to grow its business
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CAWDOR Castle has unveiled plans to create a new events venue within its famous walled garden.
Cawdor Castle Ltd has lodged a planning application with Highland Council to build a standalone, purpose-built facility at the bottom of the castle’s spectacular 18th century garden.
Designed by Morris and Steedman Associates, it is in a “restrained, classical style” and will offer a flexible conference, exhibition and banquet dinner space.
Cawdor Castle opened to the public in 1976 and is now one of the region’s most successful tourist attractions, last year welcoming more than 100,000 visitors between April and October. As well as operating as a visitor attraction, it is also the home of Lady Angelika Cawdor, the dowager countess.
Adding a commercial aspect to the ancient buildings is nigh-on impossible since the castle is built around a central tower and does not contain any large rooms suitable to host modern hospitality events. It does not have a fully functioning year-round facility for visitors at present, and closes from October to April each year.
Graham Griffith, managing director of Cawdor Castle Ltd, said: “The proposed venue will enable us to grow our business in a sustainable manner, providing the capability to trade all year round which will help protect, preserve and encourage the local economy by producing new local jobs and attracting new local, national and international business opportunities.
“Our key objective is to protect the castle for the future and this investment will not only offer our clients and visitors a unique high-quality experience, but also generate income which is necessary to maintain the fabric of this special property.
“We intend to grow our business without causing any further pressure on the historical building or the increasingly fragile infrastructure of the local area, which is already under pressure during the summer season.”
Lady Cawdor said: “I am confident that our plans for the new venue at Cawdor will enhance the experience of visiting one of Scotland’s most ancient homes.
“This new facility in the grounds would provide a space for staging art, music, theatre and community events in an unparalleled setting.”
Architects Morris and Steedman’s statement with the planning application states: “The garden is very beautiful and important to the setting of the castle and full recognition is being taken of this.
“The building can be accessed from the existing car park with modest alteration to the current path network. A small section of garden wall will require to be dismantled to form an opening, but there are no distinguishing features along this section of the wall of any significance.”
