An north entrepreneur, who opened a high-end men’s clothing business in Inverness less than a year ago, has applied to change the business to a cafe.
Paul Brock, who moved his extended family to the Highlands from the Cotswolds last year, said he had almost sold all the stock he brought with him from his previous clothing business and taken the decision it was time for a change of direction.
He has applied for a change of use to turn his shop Brocks on the corner of Southside Road and Crown Street into a cafe.
Mr Brock said: “We were being priced out of the Cotswolds and realised, as a family, it would be difficult to stay there, and we wanted to move to the Highlands, which we absolutely love.
“I brought all the stock I had with me from the clothing business I set up ten years ago, and decided to open a shop in order to test the market for high-end gents’ clothing.
“There isn’t really one, the market’s too dispersed and people go online or to Glasgow or Edinburgh for their special occasion clothes.
“But it’s bought me time to seriously think about the business, and eventually do what my wife said from the start and open a cafe.”
Mr Brock’s wife Natasha teaches at Merkinch Primary, and the couple have two children Evie, 7, and Rosie, 3.
Mr Brock said: “They call each other ‘sister.’ Our life is all about them, so the cafe is to be called Two Sisters.
“I envisage it as a place to come to get good coffee and cake, with morning and lunch time offerings, opening roughly from 8.30am to 6pm.
“I want to make it somewhere where you can meet up and chat or sit and watch the world go by.”
Mr Brock said the family is discussing the theme and style of the new venue.
He added: “The idea is that if we wouldn’t have it in the house, we won’t have it in the shop. We’re going to choose stuff we would love to sit in.”
Mr Brock’s change of use application is before Highland Council and, if it gains approval, he hopes to open the cafe later in the summer.
