New plasterboard ceilings starting to go onto the framework. Electrician's first fix for the new lighting.
New lime mortar in the original stone wall now well under way.
The latest happenings at Clachaig Inn, Glencoe Scotland.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Day 2
Busy, busy. Progress looking good on the ground even if in the office we're having a few nightmares over out of stock light fittings and carpets that weren't supposed to need replacing - but do!
Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
Time for a makeover
No, we haven't moved the pool table into the dining room. We're just having a bit of a clear out in anticipation of the builders moving in first thing on Monday morning.
This table, with hidden depths, has been the centre piece of the dining room since May 1984. Not quite a family heirloom, but one of the last remaining bits of furniture in the inn left over from our move northwards all those years ago. Finally, we've decided to reclaim it for the family.
The refurb starts here!
This table, with hidden depths, has been the centre piece of the dining room since May 1984. Not quite a family heirloom, but one of the last remaining bits of furniture in the inn left over from our move northwards all those years ago. Finally, we've decided to reclaim it for the family.
The refurb starts here!
Wish Ye Were Here
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Clachaig Christmas Party Night
Join us for The Clachaig Christmas Party!
Stuff the turkey - it's a hog roast at Clachaig
We never do things by half here at Clachaig and to celebrate the re-opening of the refurbished Boots Bar we introduce the inaugural Clachaig Christmas Party Night.
With a definite Clachaig spin on festive food we’ve decided to stuff the turkey and go the whole hog….quite literally!
We'll have a Hog Roast Buffet, live music, Santa complete with a bulging sack and not a Brussels sprout in sight. Perfect for your Xmas party with friends, family or colleagues
Tuesday 20th December - £19.95 per person and the evening will include
- Refectory style dining in the new look Boots Bar
- Complimentary glass of Mulled Wine on arrival
- 3 course buffet style menu (7pm to 8.30pm) Homemade soup, hog roast & all the trimmings – stuffing, apple sauce, baked potatoes. Desserts include our legendary ‘boozy’ trifle.
- Live music from Shananigan - plus a guest appearance from one of our old 'acts' out of retirement especially for the evening
- a fun, informal and positively relaxed Clachaig Boots Bar style night out
- not your usual Christmas Fayre, but a Clachaig spin on Festive Food
Contact Us now to book your table.
Time flies..., when you're hard at it!
The last month has just flown by, as we've all been so busy with any number of jobs. We've had a succession of things breaking down or just giving up. At the end of a long and busy season we all feel a bit knackered, but quite why drains, roofs, and boilers should also get the end of season blues is anyone's guess.
And then there's Octoberfest, as we run through the last beer festival of the year. Unfortunately the autumn has been a little damp this year, and so getting out and about in the fantastic autumn scenery has been, whilst still possible, a little more gore-tex clad than most would prefer. Not that it's put a dampener on the festival itself. Numbers are slightly down on previous years, but the beers are still selling through nicely, with some of our newer (and brand new) brands proving to be the most popular.
But of all the things that we've been busy with this month, the most demanding has been our refurbishment plans. Much of the preparation work is now done, and we're now busy placing orders and planning the logistics of how it will all come together.
Not surprisingly, balancing budgets has been a huge challenge. However, we've been very determined not to compromise on the scope and the quality of the work, especially where the Boots Bar is concerned. The one thing that we've realised from these last few months is that if we're going to refresh the image, then we have to get it right. Actually, we knew that long before we made our intentions public, but it's been the over riding message of the feedback we've received so far. So in the final programme, we'll be concentrating on the Boots Bar and the Dining Room, whilst simply refreshing the Bidean Lounge Bar.
As of Monday morning coming (31st October) we'll be hard at it. We've given ourselves 2 weeks to give the Dining Room a complete makeover. Breakfasts in the meantime will be served in the Bidean Lounge.
The Boots Bar will be closing it's doors at the close of play on Saturday 12th November, and we hope to be back in business on Saturday 3rd December. Changes are that we'll still have some finishing touches to add, and will probably be hoping that the paint will be dry by the time we open the doors, but it's a plan...!
To mark the official re-opening, and also to ensure that we all get the chance to relax in time for Christmas, plans for a Clachaig Christmas Party are coming together for Tuesday 20th December. We reckon that you'll see enough turkey over Christmas, and so in true Clachaig style, dinner will feature a hog roast, and will be served in the Boots Bar. We hope that we'll see you there!
And then there's Octoberfest, as we run through the last beer festival of the year. Unfortunately the autumn has been a little damp this year, and so getting out and about in the fantastic autumn scenery has been, whilst still possible, a little more gore-tex clad than most would prefer. Not that it's put a dampener on the festival itself. Numbers are slightly down on previous years, but the beers are still selling through nicely, with some of our newer (and brand new) brands proving to be the most popular.
The Boots Bar - but how will it look on 3rd December?
But of all the things that we've been busy with this month, the most demanding has been our refurbishment plans. Much of the preparation work is now done, and we're now busy placing orders and planning the logistics of how it will all come together.
Not surprisingly, balancing budgets has been a huge challenge. However, we've been very determined not to compromise on the scope and the quality of the work, especially where the Boots Bar is concerned. The one thing that we've realised from these last few months is that if we're going to refresh the image, then we have to get it right. Actually, we knew that long before we made our intentions public, but it's been the over riding message of the feedback we've received so far. So in the final programme, we'll be concentrating on the Boots Bar and the Dining Room, whilst simply refreshing the Bidean Lounge Bar.
Changing times ahead too for the Snug Bar.
As of Monday morning coming (31st October) we'll be hard at it. We've given ourselves 2 weeks to give the Dining Room a complete makeover. Breakfasts in the meantime will be served in the Bidean Lounge.
The Boots Bar will be closing it's doors at the close of play on Saturday 12th November, and we hope to be back in business on Saturday 3rd December. Changes are that we'll still have some finishing touches to add, and will probably be hoping that the paint will be dry by the time we open the doors, but it's a plan...!
To mark the official re-opening, and also to ensure that we all get the chance to relax in time for Christmas, plans for a Clachaig Christmas Party are coming together for Tuesday 20th December. We reckon that you'll see enough turkey over Christmas, and so in true Clachaig style, dinner will feature a hog roast, and will be served in the Boots Bar. We hope that we'll see you there!
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Slowly slowly catchy monkey
The end of September already, which all things considered is a bit shocking considering that our big plans for giving Clachaig a makeover are due to get under way in a matter of a few weeks. However, whilst it does seem to be getting ever closer, and there seems to be many unanswered questions, we're actually more organised than we might let on. We hope!
Today should see a big milestone passed, as it's the deadline for
the return of tenders. The day we find out how much it all might cost,
assuming of course, that we remembered to write down everything we
wanted in the tender documents.
Once the returns have been collated we get just a few brief days to go through them, analyse the detail, and check the piggy bank. By the end of next week we hope to be in a position to award a contract. From then on, there's just 3 weeks lead time allowed. Once Octoberfest closing night is done and dusted, the works begin.
With the Boots Bar, Bidean Lounge Bar and the Breakfast/Dining Room on our hit list, we're planning to phase the work in 3 different stages. November into December is a quiet time of year for us, but we still tick over, and can still manage some fairly busy weekends. By phasing the work, we hope to ensure that we'll be open throughout, offering our usual hospitality, and be able to feed and water our customers right up to our traditional 3 day closure for Christmas Eve.
The plan is:
Week commencing Monday 31st October.
Dining room works commence, with a target reopening of Friday 11th November. during this period we will serve breakfasts in the Bidean Lounge Bar. The bars will be unaffected.
Week commencing Monday 14th November.
Boots Bar works commence, with a target for reopening of Friday 2nd December. During this period the action will move to the Bidean Lounge Bar, with additional dining space being available in our swanky new dining room. Breakfast service will revert back to the dining room.
Week commencing Monday 5th December
Bidean Lounge Bar works commence, with a target reopening of Friday 16th December. During this period the swanky new Boots Bar will no doubt be the big draw, and, as a result, few will care that the Lounge Bar is closed. The swanky new restaurant will be available for breakfasts, and will also be available for any families with children who are unable to use the age restricted Boots Bar.
It's a 'fluid' plan. It could change at any time. It could just vary only slightly. Who knows! If one area isn't finished, the next one won't start, as we don't really want the builders in over Christmas. We'll endeavour to keep our customers up to date throughout (Facebook is the best place to get current information), and we will work hard to ensure that the impact on our customers is kept to an absolute minimum.
Only highly skilled trained professionals will be employed on the refurbishment
Who remembers this? Is it time for a return of the piano to the Boots Bar?
Once the returns have been collated we get just a few brief days to go through them, analyse the detail, and check the piggy bank. By the end of next week we hope to be in a position to award a contract. From then on, there's just 3 weeks lead time allowed. Once Octoberfest closing night is done and dusted, the works begin.
Refurbishing is a subtle and tender process requiring great precision and skill.
With the Boots Bar, Bidean Lounge Bar and the Breakfast/Dining Room on our hit list, we're planning to phase the work in 3 different stages. November into December is a quiet time of year for us, but we still tick over, and can still manage some fairly busy weekends. By phasing the work, we hope to ensure that we'll be open throughout, offering our usual hospitality, and be able to feed and water our customers right up to our traditional 3 day closure for Christmas Eve.
Rae and her temporary Lounge Bar may well be making a long overdue comeback!
The plan is:
Week commencing Monday 31st October.
Dining room works commence, with a target reopening of Friday 11th November. during this period we will serve breakfasts in the Bidean Lounge Bar. The bars will be unaffected.
Week commencing Monday 14th November.
Boots Bar works commence, with a target for reopening of Friday 2nd December. During this period the action will move to the Bidean Lounge Bar, with additional dining space being available in our swanky new dining room. Breakfast service will revert back to the dining room.
Week commencing Monday 5th December
Bidean Lounge Bar works commence, with a target reopening of Friday 16th December. During this period the swanky new Boots Bar will no doubt be the big draw, and, as a result, few will care that the Lounge Bar is closed. The swanky new restaurant will be available for breakfasts, and will also be available for any families with children who are unable to use the age restricted Boots Bar.
It's a 'fluid' plan. It could change at any time. It could just vary only slightly. Who knows! If one area isn't finished, the next one won't start, as we don't really want the builders in over Christmas. We'll endeavour to keep our customers up to date throughout (Facebook is the best place to get current information), and we will work hard to ensure that the impact on our customers is kept to an absolute minimum.
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