A popular Highland arts venue is to downsize in a bid to secure the building’s long-term future.
Strathpeffer Pavilion will close its in-house restaurant on June 19.
Marketing of events at the venue will also be cut back.
The charity which runs the venue says that it is trying to save money ahead of a fundraising campaign to ultimately buy the building outright.
Strathpeffer Pavilion Association currently leases the building from the Scottish Heritage Building Trust via Highland Council.
Pavilion chairman Julian Foot said: “As every charity knows, the catch 22 with fundraising is that you need time and staff to pursue it.
“Big charities employ fundraisers full-time, as they understand just how much work goes into successful applications.
“Most of our team here are part-time, which is why we need to lessen their workload.
“Despite how counter-intuitive it may seem, if we continue along our current path we’ll get by, but remain dependent on grants and vulnerable to future cuts.
“Many of the funding bodies we’d like to approach are not willing to invest in charities that don’t own their own premises, so by concentrating on buying the building now we’ll gain greater access to funds down the line and help secure a longer term, self-sufficient future for the Pavilion.”
The pavilion will continue to cater for weddings, funerals and other large events, although the day to day operation of the restaurant will end.
Venue manager Yvonne Potter said: “In many respects business at the Pavilion is good, but the energy and effort required to deliver some of it can be overwhelming.
“We’re sad to see the restaurant come to a close at this point, and have nothing but praise and thanks for the great team behind it since we opened in 2013.
“Unfortunately we don’t have the resources to carry on as we are and chase the level of funding required.
She said that once the charity owns the building they will aim to establish a visitor centre with bar and restaurant facilities.
Councillor Iain Cockburn, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, said: “It’s a huge asset to the village and it’s really important to the area with the concerts, wedding and exhibitions and everything else they do.
“For Strathpeffer to be a success then the pavilion needs to be a success and we need it to keep going one way or another.”
