Redeveloped Inverness pub the Rose Street Foundry reopens following Covid-19 restrictions
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The Rose Street Foundry pub in Academy Street, Inverness has reopened to the public.
The former home of AI Welders, the bar originally opened in March, just days before the implementation of lockdown restrictions.
The team is now cautiously welcoming the first customers.
The Rose Street Foundry will operate as a bar only until August 15, when it hopes to also open its restaurant specialising in high-quality local food.
For now, only the ground floor of the building will be open with a one-way, socially distanced layout and table service only.
A reduced staff of five, who are fully Covid trained, will be looking after customers and a reservation diary will record contact details for track and trace purposes.
The Category B listed building is one of the most historic in Academy Street and was left unoccupied until being acquired by Cairngorm Taverns with funding support from Inverness Townscape Heritage Project (ITHP).
An ITHP grant of over £1 million was a significant contribution towards the total cost of renovations, which included the restoration and reinstatement of decorative mosaics to the outside of the building.
Inverness Townscape Heritage Project includes funding from Highland Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) via the Inverness City Heritage Trust (ICHT).
Built during 1893-95, the building has been sympathetically restored, with décor paying tribute to its industrial past.
At the start of the year, employees of AI Welders were invited back to their former workplace to see the transformation.
They held their monthly reunion in the newly restored boardroom and brought a portrait of Samuel Hunter-Gordon, former Chair & MD of AI Welders, which now has pride of place in the function room.
Commenting on the opening, Sam Faircliff, managing director of Cairngorm Taverns, said: "It has been a long and difficult process to finally welcome customers to Rose Street Foundry.
"The renovation of this beautiful building was a massive undertaking in itself before being faced with the coronavirus pandemic just as we were due to open. However, I’m so glad to finally be able to open our doors, albeit in a reduced capacity and with the necessary safety measures in place.
"Rose Street Foundry has huge architectural and historic significance to Inverness and we felt a responsibility to restore it to the standard it deserves, so I’m delighted to now be able to show off all the hard work that has gone into its renovation.
"I’d like to thank everyone for their patience as we find our feet.
"We look forward to welcoming you, from a safe distance, soon!”
Councillor Jimmy Gray, chairman of the Inverness Townscape Heritage Project, said: "As one of the most iconic buildings for Inverness residents, it was important that Rose Street Foundry was brought back to life.
"The redevelopment has been the flagship project for Inverness Townscape Heritage Project which worked alongside partners to secure a funding package for full heritage restoration.
"I’m delighted that this historic building and its many original features, including the iconic beautiful mosaics, have been restored and preserved for generations to come. Cheers to the new Rose Street Foundry!"
The Rose Street Foundry website can be found here
Find out more about Inverness Townscape Heritage Project here
