New Highland venture serves up Scottish food, drink and history
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A new business which uses the best of Scottish food and drink to delve into history has opened eight months after the original planned launch date.
The Coutts family spent more than a year renovating a rundown hotel in Beauly and were due to open the new venture when the coronavirus pandemic struck.
Although the serviced apartments on the upstairs floors of the historic coaching inn – renamed Downright Gabbler – were busy during the summer, it is only now they have been able to open the downstairs restaurant for the food and drink events.
The events are hosted by Garry Coutts, the former chairman of NHS Highland, while he and his wife Jane Cumming have been joined in the business by their youngest daughter, Kirsty, who trained as a chef at nearby Achnagairn Estate and has devised the Scottish-focused menu.
"We want a visit here to be a special experience for our guests," Mr Coutts said.
"They’ll hear interesting stories, enjoy great food and drink and maybe make some new friends.
"We’ve changed the focus of our events a little to give them more appeal to people locally as we’re only able to welcome guests from other level one and two areas."
Changes in the tourism market show visitors are keen to enjoy experiences and there is a growing interest in local food and drink.
"There’s no doubt it’s been tough this year and we’ve had to spend quite a bit of time working out how we could change our plans to deliver the events safely in these new circumstances," Mr Coutts said.
Downright Gabbler, named after Frances Wright – a forgotten woman of the Scottish Enlightenment – will initially run an event three nights a week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Ale and Hearty celebrates the role of beer in Scotland’s history during a four-course dinner but there are other drinks for non-beer drinkers.
Related story: New events venture still progressing despite coronavirus setback
