The Minister
The Opening
“It is a proud day for the community” said a spokesperson for the Community Alliance Trust
“we are delighted to invite them back into the building and to begin this new phase as a resource to bring people together creating employment and opportunities for local people.”
“We are creating jobs – five so far with scope for more as we develop the program. Initially we will be providing a quality healthy eating café and function space for everything from small conferences to funerals. It has taken a couple of years to bring the vision to reality and there were a few moments when we weren’t sure it would happen”
The B-listed building originally designed by William Innes Thomson was opened as a road house in 1936 – a cross between a pub and a hotel where people went to play billiards, take tea or have a drink. The building had fallen into decline until it was bought by PARC (the local regeneration company) in 2007. Funds from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund and Historic Scotland enabled a £2m restoration of the building.