A well-known public sector leader in the Highlands is planning to open up his home to take visitors on a tour of the country’s food and drink history.
Garry Coutts served in a variety of high-profile positions during his career, including as a local councillor, chairman of NHS Highland and the Scottish Social Services Council, as well as rector of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
But now he is poised to try his hand at a new venture by launching a unique “visitor experience” at his home.
Mr Coutts has applied for planning permission to host guests at the Old Station House in Beauly.
Visitors would be offered the chance to sample traditional Scottish cuisine alongside tastings of beer, wine and whisky, while learning about the key role they played in Scottish history through the ages.
Mr Coutts explained that the idea had emerged as he considered his next move after stepping down from his role at the health board last year.
“Basically we’ve got a huge property there which used to be great when we had lots of kids, but we’ve got much less need for it now. It’s far too big,” he said.
“We were thinking of what things we could do with it and also I’m looking for other things to do, so we thought we would run a visitor experience.
“It would be very small numbers, a maximum of 15, and it would be booked in. We’re not looking for people coming off the streets.”
The experience would last up to three hours and be timed to coincide with rail services to and from Beauly.
Samples of beer would be offered as guests learn about the role it played through the agricultural and industrial revolutions and the creation of the Empire, while there would be wine tasting as the importance of Claret on the Auld Alliance and the Scottish Enlightenment is considered, followed by a discussion on the development of blended whisky.
Mr Coutts said: “It’s basically just an idea we came up with. We will not be running a pub. We’re not running a restaurant.
“If people come they will get basically one bottle of beer, one glass of wine, and one whisky. If they don’t want to drink, that is fine.
“It’s aimed at everybody. Certainly tourists we think will be quite a big part of it, but we also hope if will appeal to local people as well.”
