Highland village store set to expand in bid to attract more visitors
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Owners at a Highland village store are looking forward to start works on a new expansion after they were granted planning permission today.
Cannich Stores and Post Office is preparing for an upgrade which will see the premises double the retail space and open a new bar and cafe by replacing the existing outdoor covered area.
Brad Collins, who has been the owner of the shop with his wife Nicole since 2014 after moving to the area from Australia, said they are looking forward to start working on the project.
He said: "At the moment there is no bar or cafe open year round within 17 miles – there are some Drumnadrochit and some in Beauly, but nothing this way, but having the shop open year-round will allow us to have a cafe open throughout the year.
"That also creates a few jobs for a small village, and a point of interest for tourist to come to. We already do a bit in that respect, acting as a de facto tourist information, but we'll be able to do more of that.
"This will allow us to do much more with our stores and hopefully attract more visitors.
"We work very closely to raise money to support the Affric Kintail Way maintenance, so that will help ups and promote the area.
Mr Collins said he hopes to attract more tourists to the area during quieter months.
He said: "Hopefully this will bring more people to the area and have a positive impact on other local businesses.
"We have one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I don't think enough people know about it!"
He added that the announcement was well received in the village
"Everyone has been really supportive on our plans," he said.
"We have been inundated with people today asking when that's going to happen, everyone is super excited about it."
The cafe will have sitting spaces as well as a lounge area with USB chargers to allow walkers undertaking the Affric Kintail Way to charge their devices and fuel up before heading down the route.
Two to three jobs are expected to result from the development.
Mr Collins said: "We hope we can keep the people that will be working during summer over winter too, aiming to keep the cafe open all-year-round.
"At the moment in winter we see very few visitors, if any, but we hope that with the cafe we will be able to attract more people even off season.
They hope they'll be able to host events such as whisky tastings in the new space.
He added that works will be starting in the coming weeks, with the hope to open the new premises by March 2024.
