Update on Carsphairn shop and pub plans
Letter from Carsphairn Village Shop Committee Ltd (CVSL) on the ongoing redevelopment of the community shop and plans to re-open the village pub.
Dear Community Members,
Thank you all for your continued support and patience whilst we have been carrying out upgrades and refurbishment works at the shop and café.
The project has continued to make excellent progress and has involved over 600 volunteer hours in the garden alone. The amount of time, effort and goodwill contributed by volunteers has been truly remarkable.
We have contacted and booked interviews for the applicants who have applied for the Shop Manager role and part time role and they begin within a few weeks. We have been delighted by the level of interest received and would like to thank everyone who took the time to apply.
As we move towards opening, the CVSL Committee has taken an important decision. Rather than opening in a limited capacity, we have agreed that the shop and café will only open once our permanent staff team is in place, training has been completed and all operational systems are fully functioning. With this we must be considerate of the new Shop Manager’s former job notice period. They may well have to give a month’s notice so this will impact on our opening times. Although this timescale isn’t what we as a committee and you as members would have desired, we want to make sure that when the shop and cafe are open, we are open permanently, with no hiccups, friendly and well trained staff and we have permanent suppliers. Unfortunately if this means we aren’t fully open until August, we have to take that knock on the chin and learn from the experience. This is the first time any of the committee members (minus one who has successfully opened their own pub in the past) have done this so we have all gone through this learning experience together.
Whilst this may mean waiting a little longer, we believe it is the right decision for the long term success of the business. We want to ensure that when the doors open, the community is welcomed by consistent opening hours, a wide range of stock, and a complete food and drinks offering that meets the expectations residents have helped shape throughout the project. The committee remains committed to delivering a shop and café that is sustainable, professionally operated and capable of serving the community for many years to come.
We are also awaiting confirmation of additional funding to complete the final decorating works to the house and some remaining flooring works. Without a completed house, we are not able to offer the Shop Manager a home to live in.
Prior to opening, we will involve the successful Manager in the recruitment and training of the wider team. We will also host a community coffee and cake session, giving everyone an opportunity to see the completed facilities, suggest stock items, provide feedback on the new look, and view photographs showing the transformation of both the café and gardens.
Our volunteers have worked exceptionally hard and we are truly grateful for the enormous team effort involved.
Special thanks also go to our funders, CREFL and the National Lottery Community Fund, as well as Glenkens Men’s Shed (the lantern is beautiful), David Mason and team, David from Swept and Sootless, Margot and Brian McMorran for facilitating access when required for the shop garden, Billy McCreath for assistance with moving larger garden items, and the many others who have supported the project along the way.
Greystones Pub update:
For full transparency, the South Kyle Advisory Board have awarded £75,000 for the purchase of Greystones Pub and related fees. I’m very pleased to say that our offer of £50,000 has been accepted and the solicitors are now beginning their work. The funding includes the purchase price, non domestic rates for one year, insurance for the property, architectural fees and solicitor fees. Once the architect has drawn up plans for the project, we will hold an open day in the hall to ask for resident comments. Drawn plans for both variations will be made available for residents to view and share their thoughts.
Every effort will be made to get planning permission to reopen as a community pub and if this is not successful through the council, the building will be turned into two houses. Phase two funding will be applied for the work on the property once planning has been accepted and quotes for the work are submitted.
The purchase of Greystones Pub will turn a derelict building into either a wonderful community hub that isn’t just for drinking a pint, but is somewhere where we can all meet, have another local place to eat out, play darts and dominoes, be booked for private catered parties, hold monthly quiz nights and music nights or worst case scenario, two homes for new residents. CVSL are committed to reducing social isolation and lack of jobs in such a rural area and we believe that Greystones Pub would be a great asset for the community. Phase two funding will be applied for on the property once planning has been accepted.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Kind regards,
The Carsphairn Village Shop Ltd Committee