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PICTURES: First peek inside new £1.7 million Inverness care home


By Neil MacPhail

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Private dinning room for functions. Picture: Gary Anthony
Private dinning room for functions. Picture: Gary Anthony

A new luxury care home in Inverness is set to open its doors to residents before the end of the month.

Castlehill Care Home has beds for 88 people and will employ more than 70, while the 13-month construction created almost 100 contractor and site worker positions in Inverness.

The home will employ at last 70 people. Picture: Gary Anthony
The home will employ at last 70 people. Picture: Gary Anthony

The £7.2 million development in Cradlehall is by Glasgow property construction group Simply UK.

Castlehill resembles a well-appointed upmarket hotel, with ultra modern furniture and décor.

Much of the artwork on the walls has a music or film theme, featuring stars such as Lulu, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne, and there is a baby grand piano available for musical sessions.

A courtyard area. Picture: Gary Anthony
A courtyard area. Picture: Gary Anthony

The home will accommodate residents from both the private and public sectors, and has private dining areas, hair salons, a bar, several lounges and a secluded courtyard and garden. Some of the rooms include balconies with tremendous views over the Beauly Firth and the Black Isle.

Simply UK’s director of care Linda Meston has been in Inverness to host induction courses and “due diligence” for the many new staff they are appointing.

The care home has top-of-the-range décor. Picture: Gary Anthony
The care home has top-of-the-range décor. Picture: Gary Anthony

She said: “We are on track to open before the end of January, with all the building and fitting out completed. The manager Karen Breen is in post and the housekeepers are already at work along with kitchen and maintenance staff.

“We have some residents confirmed, but we will be better placed to know how many are arriving initially in the next few weeks.

“We will soon be sending out invitations to community groups asking them to come and look around the home.”

She said that another piece of art was already drawing interest from children in the area. One of the many specially decorated Oor Wullie figures which appeared throughout the country last summer was bought at a charity auction by Simply UK and is set to become a mascot for the new care home. City-based freelance illustrator and graphic designer Claire Maclean, who designed its unique colour scheme, has been asked to officially open the home.

Manager Karen Breen with Oor Wullie at the entrance to the home. Picture: Gary Anthony
Manager Karen Breen with Oor Wullie at the entrance to the home. Picture: Gary Anthony
Artwork is inspired by music and movies. Picture: Gary Anthony
Artwork is inspired by music and movies. Picture: Gary Anthony
The new Castlehill Care Home prepares to open its doors. Picture: Gary Anthony
The new Castlehill Care Home prepares to open its doors. Picture: Gary Anthony
There is a small cinema room with authentic seating. Picture: Gary Anthony
There is a small cinema room with authentic seating. Picture: Gary Anthony
Right, a private dining room for functions.
Right, a private dining room for functions.

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