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Richard MacLean wants to put a smile on shoppers’ faces with his new addition to Inverness High Street.

Opened just in time for the summer, he sees Castle Cones as an ice cream shop with a difference.

“We are serving luxury dairy ice cream at its top end. We’ll also have crêpes, chocolate fountains and strawberries and bananas in tubs just to bring a little chill factor back to Inverness,” he said.

For a warmer alternative, it will also be serving teas and coffees, with the latter provided by Inverness Coffee Roasting Co, and – like its predecessor in the unit, Buonissimo Italian Street Food – outside seating will be available for customers.

Opening the shop, which will initially employ six staff with the possible addition of another, was a long-held ambition for Mr MacLean, who has been operating his own ice cream vans under the name Ricky’s Ices in Inverness for 21 years.

Selling a bouncy castle hire business gave him the capital to invest in Castle Cones, though the ice cream vans will continue to operate.

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