Street food zone in 'cultural quarter' of Highland capital could help post-pandemic regeneration
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THE couple behind a successful Ross-shire eatery have tabled plans for a street food promenade in the ‘cultural quarter’ of Inverness as it recovers from the pandemic.
Plans have been submitted to establish a street food zone with gazebo-type stalls or mobile trailers along the banks of the River Ness as part of a broader venture to create a Highland Food and Drink Trail.
It would be located close to Inverness Cathedral, next to the existing refreshment kiosk which opened in 2018.
Comprising a maximum of six stalls at any one time in the summer and fewer in the winter, it would offer fare from established vendors, restaurant pop-ups and new ventures.
The plans have been submitted by Douglas Hardie who runs Bad Girl Bakery in Muir of Ord with his partner Jeni.
So far there has been a cautious welcome from the local community.
Mr Hardie believes the street food element – along with the Highland Food and Drink Trail – would not only boost footfall in the city centre but would showcase a changing range of local produce.
"Research before Covid and since shows that food and drink is one of the drivers of city centre regeneration," he said.
"Other cities offer street food, such as the Big Eat in Glasgow, but we don’t really have a street food culture in the Highlands."
He said the idea was also to enable fledgling businesses to "give it a go" by taking up a unit for a day, a week, or longer, and also to provide mentoring.
"It is a way new businesses can get out there, get their brand known and get some income," he said.
Mr Hardie felt the location would help draw people into a broader area of the city.
"We have a fantastic river," he said. "The idea is to get people out of their cars and get them walking, get them visiting places they might not have visited before and have a good look around and enjoy the city in a way they have possibly never enjoyed it before."
Under the plans the units would operate within a 10am to 10pm window.
It is expected the street food zone would be in use seven days a week over the summer and during associated events while winter usage was likely to be two or three days centred on weekends.
Mr Hardie said the broader Highland Food and Drink Trail – a collaborative venture involving various organisations and funders – would take in an area between the Infirmary and Greig Street bridges and other city centre streets.
Inverness Cathedral said it would welcome a possible increase in footfall and visitors in and around what has been called the ‘cultural quarter’.
Cathedral Provost, Very Rev Sarah Murray, said: "The increase in visitors in the area can only be a good thing for the cathedral and our café and the existing businesses and organisations in this area of the city.
"The upkeep of the cathedral, which is an important part of the city’s architectural history, is enormous and we welcome the opportunity to work with Highland Council and the Street Food Trail to ensure that the maintenance and upkeep of the cathedral can benefit from this new initiative.”
Helen Smith, chairwoman of Ballifeary Community Council, said members had yet to discuss the street food zone plans but there seemed to be a general view that they would not be opposed to it in principle.
However, some potential issues might need to be addressed such as litter and how to accommodate the stalls in an area used by cyclists and pedestrians.
"Hopefully it would help businesses which have been struggling with the pandemic," she said.
Related story: Muir of Ord embraces continental-style cafe culture
