Four-storey bar bid is 'vote of confidence' in Inverness city centre
A young entrepreneur is ready to make a substantial investment in creating a new bar experience in Inverness.
Taran Campbell (37) and business partner David Montgomery (31) are seeking permission to redevelop 27-31 Academy Street as an innovative games-themed pub and restaurant over three floors, with two attractive roof terraces.
By knocking through a wall to link the sizeable property with the vacant former Highland Hospice shop and cellar on Queensgate, the business would occupy four floors in all.
The business partners are hopeful they can create 25 to 30 jobs.
Playback, as it will be named, would aim to tune into the hot trend of “competitive socialising”, with an unusual array of games and activities to divert customers.
As well as three separate bars and dining areas, there will be self-service beer taps, table-tennis, beer pong, darts, pool, arcade games and shuffleboard.
With high standards of safe supervision, as the Courier reported yesterday the bar will also feature axe-throwing within a special safety cage.
The pair are also promising “a few extra surprises”, the aim being to establish a very different socialising experience.
Mr Campbell, from Inverness, and Edinburgh-raised Mr Montgomery first teamed up to establish the Infinity Trampoline Park business which has an outlet at the Telford Retail Park.
Speaking exclusively to the Courier about their latest project, which fills a premises vacated by Ponden Home Interiors, Mr Campbell said: “I’m a big fan of the competitive socialising concept, going out with friends and competing at games.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love going out with my pals to the pub, but if you can add something to the mix in terms of activities, it adjusts the focus away from just drinking itself.
“We also want to provide something good for people who don’t want to drink, but still want to go out and have a heap of fun playing games.
“We have a few other surprises lined up as well.
“The venture is absolutely a vote of confidence in the city centre. I love Inverness.
“I’ve been away from home and lived in a number of places and love the place for what it is and what it provides, but also because I think it has a ton of potential.
“I believe it will continue to flourish as a bright, vibrant city, with particularly the city centre having so much going for it.
“It is a special place to live and visit, and that’s why I’m happy to invest in it.”
While axe-throwing is a pursuit which initially stirred some controversy, it is now widely acknowledged to be a safe social pastime.
Mr Campbell stressed: “It is a sober activity and participants wishing to take part do it before they consume any alcohol.
“It takes place in closed cages, with one person allowed in at a time, supervised by a member of staff. It is very safe and heavily-controlled.”
Mr Campbell is also excited by the prospect of creating lower and upper terraces, adding: “They will be pretty cool. The lower terrace has this beautiful wall from a listed building on Queensgate that was refurbished a few years ago. It will just look fantastic as one of the exterior walls for the terrace.”
There has been controversy over Highland Council proposals to reduce traffic on Academy Street.
While maintaining an open mind on the issue, Mr Campbell added: “From a bar-restaurant owner’s perspective, once complete I think Academy Street will look great.
“It is a no-brainer to encourage more pedestrians and everybody wants to have fewer cars on the road, but we need to get it right on traffic.
“I’m no expert, but there is no sense in just creating new difficulties.”
