Staffin Community Trust is delighted to announce that it has offered the tenancy of the new harbour facilities building to Andi Dunkel and Paul Milne of Corran Coffee.
The new premises at Staffin Harbour includes a 28m2 retail space with 4 x public toilets and 2 x showers.
The lease has been offered to Corran Coffee following the recent application process which saw two excellent bids received.
SCT is pleased to support a locally-based start-up business which will manage a compact café providing hot and cold drinks, including freshly roasted coffee from their own roastery and baked goods i.e. cakes, biscuits etc.
No hot meals will be prepared at the building which will be open all year round.
Andi lives in Uig and Paul stays in Staffin with Corran Coffee’s owners already managing successful boat tour and bike hire businesses out of one of SCT’s harbour units, which opened in autumn in last year.
Andi will also be involved in delivering new marine training and education opportunities at the harbour for secondary school pupils with SCT later this year.
The lease is for an initial five years, with Corran Coffee currently seeking a change of planning use with the local authority.
That is because the building had been earmarked initially as the manager’s office base. SCT later decided to offer the premises for rent in a bid to generate additional revenue and support the local economy.
SCT chairman Calum MacDonald said: “The new building is an important investment in our local infrastructure and the rental income will directly support the running costs of the harbour, which has been in community ownership for less than two years. We are delighted to support a new locally-based business."
The new building was constructed by MacColl Joinery, Flodigarry; with the civils works by Eyre Plant Hire, Kensaleyre; with an excellent standard of workmanship from both firms, as well as their sub-contractors Norman Shanks Builder, painter & decorator Allan MacLeod, Shanks Plumbing & Renewables, Euan MacArthur Fencing.
The project was strongly supported by the Islands Programme, Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Community Regeneration Fund.
Andi and Paul of Corran Coffee said: “Our aim is to create a welcoming, year-round facility that enhances the experience of both local residents and visitors while complementing the existing businesses and activities at Staffin Community Harbour.
“Staffin Harbour has become an increasingly popular destination for walkers exploring An Corran, visitors crossing the hill path from Staffin village, boat trippers and those drawn to the unique coastal landscape. Despite this growing footfall, there is currently no dedicated space at the harbour offering a warm, comfortable rest point or access to high quality locally produced refreshments. Our proposed shop seeks to fill this gap by providing a modest but valuable service: hot and cold drinks, freshly roasted coffee from our own roastery in the large blue shed and a small selection of cakes and baked goods.
"We have given careful thought to the potential impact on existing businesses and recognise the importance of supporting the local economy and maintaining a healthy balance between new and established enterprises.
For this reason, we have made a deliberate decision not to offer any hot food options. Our focus will remain solely on promoting our own roasted coffee and light baked goods, ensuring that our presence complements rather than competes with the food offerings already available in the Staffin community.
“Our intention is to enhance the visitor experience at the harbour without drawing trade away from businesses that rely on serving full meals. A key component of our proposal is the provision of clean, well-maintained toilet facilities available throughout the year. At present, the lack of reliable public conveniences places pressure on both visitors and the surrounding environment. By offering accessible facilities as part of our operation, we hope to support responsible tourism and contribute positively to the overall management of the harbour area.” https://www.corran.coffee/