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Inverness could get new Roots Café after former Velocity staff launch crowdfunding campaign





River Elliott and Rebecca MacKintosh.
River Elliott and Rebecca MacKintosh.

Staff who worked at Velocity Café hope to carry on the venue’s ethos by re-opening with new ownership and a new name.

Velocity Café and Bicycle Workshop, in Crown Avenue, closed last month leaving staff suddenly without jobs, prior to liquidators being appointed.

River Elliott and Rebecca MacKintosh had both worked at the venue for four years and decided they would not say goodbye to a place that had become a familiar meeting spot for many.

They are now on a crowdfunding mission to open a new venue in the same premises.

With plans to open in mid-February, Roots Café will provide vegetarian, eco-conscious food, with 100 per cent of it made on-site.

Plans are underway to open Roots cafe in the former premises of Velocity.
Plans are underway to open Roots cafe in the former premises of Velocity.

River and Rebecca met with The Inverness Courier to share their vision and hopes for the café.

Speaking about the closure of Velocity, Rebecca said: “At the moment, the business is still going into liquidation.

“The staff were told a week before that it might close, and a week later we had no jobs.

“River and I got together and decided that we wanted to build on what we had and start our own venture in the same premises.”

River said: “We will have the same ethos and the same community feel to the café. When it was Velocity, 90 per cent of the produce was made on-site, but we hope to take this up to 100 per cent.

“Between us, we have a wealth of knowledge, and we hope to make it a place for all.”

Both Rebecca and River have worked in hospitality for most of their lives and had a desire to one day open their own place.

Plans are underway to open Roots cafe in the former premises of Velocity.
Plans are underway to open Roots cafe in the former premises of Velocity.

Instead of throwing in the towel with the closure of Velocity, the two of them saw it as an opportunity to follow their dreams.

River said: “Working as a chef at Velocity, I thought this would be my last stop before doing my own thing.

“We just thought, well, now is the time, and we can now have more creative freedom.”

Rebecca added: “It’s been incredible how many regulars have got in touch with us directly and have faith in us to start this venture.

“So many people have come in over the years, and we know them and their families. We are really missing that and looking forward to seeing everyone again.”

The pair are hoping to raise £40,000 through crowdfunding to allow them to do branding, buy uniforms, fix the premises, and cover the first month’s operating costs.

River Elliott and Rebecca MacKintosh.
River Elliott and Rebecca MacKintosh.

The landlord of the premises has been in talks with Rebecca and River and is happy to allow them to take over the lease.

Explaining why the new venture will be called Roots, River said: “This is our professional roots, and the roots we want to lay down here.”

The pair will take on staff who were previously employed by Velocity Café.

The bike workshop will not re-open under Roots, but River and Rebecca believe this will be opened by other former staff at a different premises in the future.

Rebecca added: “We’ve just decided that we need to give this a shot, and we are grateful for everyone’s faith in us to do it.”

The crowdfunding page can be accessed here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-us-open-roots-cafe-inverness

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