The former premises of the Badenoch’s pub in Elgin is on the market just four days after the bar and restaurant closed.
Former bar manager, Ross Archibald, broke the news to its loyal customers last Wednesday that it would be calling last orders on November 5 after four years of service.
The closure was the latest in a string of businesses to have fallen victim to “massive” cost increases in recent months.
Now though, the unit that formerly housed Badenoch’s has been put on the market with annual rent at £50,000 plus VAT.
The premises
Gairland, an Elgin-based firm that renovates old buildings, is letting out the premises at 178-182 High Street.
Its website says the space would be perfect for “an experienced operator to establish a number of hospitality concepts at-scale.”
The unit consists of a large front-of-house space with a licensed capacity of 346 people, a fully-equipped commercial kitchen, a bar and a cellar.
A number of features make the space unique, from a picked-and-pointed stone wall – the original exterior wall of an earlier building – with archways through to seating areas, wooded cladding above the bar and industrial-style flooring.
The kitchen space is describes as being “very large” at more than 180 square foot and there are two bathrooms on the first floor.
Gairland says on its website: “With an abundance of space, a prominent placement, and ‘good bones’ in the interior, we believe 178-182 High Street makes for an outstanding opportunity to develop a bar, venue, restaurant or gastropub in an established and growing market.
“The extraordinarily large kitchen presents a further opportunity to develop take-away trade under multiple brands.”
At the back there is a nearly 1,000 square foot garden space which was used by Badenoch’s as a beer garden. This can be leased along with the property by separate negotiation.
The location
A vast range of customers and markets will be available to whoever takes over the building – from whisky lovers exploring Speyside to those stationed at nearby military bases and families living in the area.
The unit up for lease is situated on Elgin’s High Street, meaning a constant stream of footfall passes by it daily.
It is located near the city’s only nightclub as well as a supermarket, bank and independent shops. It also has parking nearby.
Whoever decides to take on the premises could have a tough job on their hands however. The hospitality sector has been hit by the blow of the cost of living crisis just as it was recovering from the pandemic.
Previous manager of Badenoch’s, Mr Archibald, said: “If you look at the help hospitality has had since Covid stared, we’ve become an afterthought compared to everything else.
“We’re all going through a cost-of-living crisis just now; it’s kind of like hospitality has been left to fend for itself.
“The outlook for hospitality doesn’t feel too rosy, it’s a shame because without local, independent businesses, high streets are going to die or become filled with chain pubs.”
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