A north businessman is seeking funding to launch a new bar and restaurant – and revitalise a neglected area of the city-centre.
Bruce MacGregor hopes to raise £150,000 of investment to help realise his vision for the northern end of Academy Street.
It is thought to be the first time in Scotland that a new licensed premises would be built completely from scratch using crowdfunding.
Mr MacGregor’s plans, centred on a vacant lot at the end of the street, involve two bars featuring Scottish craft beers, gin and whisky, as well as a restaurant.
The entrepreneur is well-known as a member of folk band Blazin Fiddles and also runs the Bogbain Farm outdoor activity centre to the south of the city.
So far he has raised about £37,000 towards his total, but he is hopeful of hitting the halfway point in his appeal in the near future after the plans were put on show at an exhibition last Friday.
The businessman said he was keen to work with similar ventures on the street, such as the Ironworks music venue and the Cairngorm Brewery, which is planning a bar in the historic AI Welders building.
Mr MacGregor said: “Crowdfunding offers a chance to everyone to get involved and take ownership to varying degrees.
“I hope we can help towards the regeneration which this area is desperately needing.
“Sometimes you can’t wait for the council to do things, you’ve got to do it yourself.
“It has huge potential.”
Crowdfunding investors will receive a range of benefits, from dividends and voting rights, to discounted tickets for Bogbain Farm’s Brew in the Bog festival.
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the plans.
He said: “I think it’s a really interesting idea and crowdfunding is certainly capturing the interest of businesses and investors at the moment.
“I think this would be a welcome addition to the Academy Street end of the town which has been pretty derelict for a while.”