Highland pie shop still on the lookout for a new manager – despite more than 1000 applications for the job; Lochinver Larder left looking after short-listed candidates pull out at last-minute
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A remote pie shop in the Scottish Highlands which received over 1000 applications to become its new general manger has seen the final short-listed couple pull out at the last moment – after realising they had bitten off more than they could chew!
The avalanche of initial job seekers was almost twice the population of the village.
Lochinver Larder in Sutherland was staggered by the response, with applicants from all over the UK as well as Europe.
The pie shop and restaurant – beloved by the late food critic and Holyrood director Michael Winner – was bought at the start of the year for around £900,000 by the Rose Hospitality group from Ian and Debra Stewart, who founded the business in 1986.
The eaterie, which is on the booming North Coast 500 road trip route, also runs a popular online pies-by-post service.
The general manager's job was advertised at £45,000-a-year, plus accommodation, with benefits including an employee share scheme.
From the huge number of applicants, an initial shortlist of seven was selected, but only four turned up.
Interim manager Duncan Cameron, who is the group's operations manager normally based in Cumbria, said:"We even met them half way in Penrith and from those interviews we picked a final two – a woman from Perthshire and a man from the East Midlands – and planned to invite them both to Lochinver to see the place for themselves.
"But then both pulled out at the 11th hour. The man's wife suddenly looked on the map and saw where Lochinver was and I believe the location was the issue for the other person.
"It is a bit frustrating as it was made clear where Lochinver was in the earlier interviews and we asked were they OK about that? But when the crunch came they obviously weren't. So it's back to the drawing board.
"We have asked our recruiter to look again at the original list for any suitable candidates. Obviously the new tier restrictions will slow the interview process, and we now hope to find the right person by March.
"The salary package is very attractive, but not everybody wants to live in a remote place like Lochinver, as beautiful as it is. The two who pulled out had very good CVs.
"Now I will have to plug the gaps for a bit longer. Since the new lockdown we are feeling the effect through the shop with less people, but are selling more pies by post and will continue to stay open – except for two days off at Christmas and the same at New Year."
