Thursday 2 May 2019

Marking 35 Years of the Daynes family at Clachaig

Way back when, in 1984, May bank holiday weekend saw the arrival of the Daynes family at Clachaig. 35 years on and we're still here, still very much with the finger on the pulse of a thriving and still growing business.

Some time circa 1984

An often asked question is where are you from? At first, it's a bit of a puzzler. After three and a half decades in Glencoe there is only one answer. Well, we live here. It takes a few moments to register that there's a hint that the accent doesn't quite have that west coast lilt, and so therefore there's must be more of a history.

Until the mid 80s we lived in York. Like so many, the lure of working for yourself in the Highland glens carried some appeal. The fact that Peter Daynes was a civil engineer and had no experience of hospitality other than doing a few nights B&B didn't really come into it. One day the house was sold, the bags were packed and the move north to a new career and a new home was really happening. 


The early days were  a challenge. Very hands on. Very long hours. So much knowledge to acquire. So many stresses and pressures to deal with. The learning curve was indeed steep. The seasons were short. The financial pressure to succeed was considerable.

Clachaig was very different in those early days. And running Clachaig was very different too. It's really hard to describe just how different. The evolution from small hands on Highland hostelry to multi-million pound modern business has been gradual, but consistent.

We've changed a little too. We're a little shy when it comes to getting in front of the camera. Here's one of Ed & Guy back in December 1985. It's not deliberately in soft focus, really. It's just that the phone in those days was more bakerlite than it was 16 mega pixel integrated camera. 



Ed & Guy - do you recognise the location?

It took a while for Guy & Ed to catch up with full time life at Clachaig. After completing a degree at Leeds Uni Guy was destined to become a chemical engineer. Meanwhile Ed was finishing off school, heading off the Newcastle for a degree and then a training contract with accountants, Price Waterhouse (now PwC), including a while spent in the Singapore office.

But the lure of Glencoe gets you in the end. Careers were dropped and the move north made. Guy in 1989, and Ed in 1991. Peter & Eileen took a step back from the front line in 1992 to concentrate on Strathlachlan Guest House (now Riverbank  Holiday Cottages). Ambition ran high and we opened The Grog & Gruel in Fort William in 1994. In 1998 Guy & Ed took full control of Clachaig. 
Clachaig


Peter and Eileen still live locally, and still look after several of the properties in the Clachaig Holidays portfolio, this despite them being in their 80s now. And eyes are now on the 3rd generation of the Glencoe Daynes'. You'll see them pouring pints, making beds and getting to grips with the hands on elements of the business from time to time, school holidays depending. However, the question is less about whether they'll follow on the family footsteps at Clachaig and more whether Guy & Ed are prepared to step aside and let them. Yet, at least!

Clachaig is many things to many people. We see some of our regular customers every month or so. Others visit once a year; an annual pilgrimage of sorts. Some of our regulars have been visiting for decades, and have been a part of Clachaig for a lot longer than we have. Such is the nature of the place. We get to meet some amazing people. We quite often get to work with some amazing people. It's an amazing place to live and work.


So that's a potted history of the last 35 years. What else is there to say, other than bring on the next 35 years. We're more than ready and the passion still runs as strong as it did on the very first day. The "customer promise; the strap line that you'll see on our web site and elsewhere is no accident. Real people, real hospitality, real craic. That's it. No further explanation required. 

Oh, and the commute to and from work can be quite nice too.










Tuesday 2 April 2019

Scotland's Brewers Gather at Clachaig

As part of our Brewers and Suppliers night this year we invited a couple of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team along to show what they used last years fundraising money to buy. We rely on our suppliers to provide raffle prizes to raise money for the GMRT, so it was a good opportunity to show them what their raffle prizes are turned into. This February we raised £2379.40 for the GMRT.
We even got Conrad from Loch Lomond to try out the vacmat.
This year Loch Lomond Brewery retained their title as their Bravehop IPA was voted the best beer on the night. It was a close run thing though with Cromarty Brewing Co in 2nd place with their Happy Chappy. 3rd place went to Strathaven Ales with their Claverhouse.



The kitchen boys getting the buffet ready.

Conrad from loch Lomond trying out the Vacmat

Ian McConnell from Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team talking about the equipment
they bought with the money raised over FebFest 2018 







Our new Assistant Manager Jessie presenting Loch Lomond Brewery
with some Clachaig Inn Beer Glasses after they retained their title of best beer.
With Merlin photo bombing the picture.


Tuesday 5 March 2019

FebFest 2019


Well FebruaryFest is over for another year. We had a great time. We had lots of live traditional music, raffles, winter safety lectures and of course the Whisky and Gin tastings are always a treat.

Every year over FebFest we raise money for mountain safety. This year we were raising money for the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team so they could buy new equipment. 
One of 4 lucky winners of a Rab Alpha Jacket
Our target this year was £2000 which will help the rescue team to buy a new communications system. 
We are happy to say we managed to surpass that target. The final total raised was £2379.40
We can only do this with the generosity of our suppliers donate amazing prizes and of course all our fantastic customers who dug so deep to contribute to such a great cause.
Here is some of what happened over FebFest.






Gin Tasting


Nevisport

Whisky Tasting


Tweed Valley Ceilidh Band

Sally & Catriona

DopeSickFly

A'Hooligan