Popular Oakwood restaurant in Inverness to close its doors after 17 years
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The Oakwood restaurant at Dochgarroch is to close its doors at the end of April after being asked to move out by its landlord.
Oakwood restaurant has been run by Gaby and Gus Glue for the last 17 years.
Mrs Glue said the closure, while sooner than she had expected, will be an opportunity for the couple to start a new cruise ship business working out of Oban.
Mrs Glue said: “We are desperately sad that we are leaving our customers who have become our friends.
“We thought that we would have had the business for a few more years yet, but it wasn’t to be. We have a notice to leave the premises by April 30.
“We have built up friendships over the years with the customers who have come to eat with us. At one time they were customers and now they are friends.
“The landlord could have given us 40 days, but instead we have been given almost six months.
“That will give us the time we need to say goodbye to our customers. It will also give us time to get our other business, Highland Lassie Island Cruises Limited, up and running.”
However, customers of the restaurant were not happy.
Bob MacFarlane, from Inverness, said: “My wife and I love eating with Gaby and Gus and it is terrible that they are being forced to close. They have been sitting tenants in the business for 17 years. People have rights. They shouldn’t just be thrown off the land on the whim of a landowner.”
Another resident said: “We have heard that there are plans to build a House of Bruar-type place at Dochgarroch”
In June, a new visitor centre, car park and café was opened on land adjacent to the restaurant, as part of Loch Ness by Jacobite.
Christian Rowe, who provides management services to the estate, said: “Dochfour Estate have had a long association with the proprietors of the Oakwood restaurant and were aware of their plans to develop a new business.
“To this end the estate agreed lease terms at Oakwood that provided for the proprietor’s needs as they were at the time and this focused on allowing time for the new venture to be developed.
“The estate have simply let the lease run its agreed course and now wish Gus and Gaby every success with the Captain’s Table on Highland Lassie.
“The estate believe in maintaining and enhancing a strong community in Dochgarroch and while there will always be differences in opinion as to what is a step forward and what is a step back, we have a stable residential community balanced with commercial development based on tourism which is providing local jobs.”
