Pub snub for inn that’s out with the locals

THE latest edition of the Good Pub Guide describes it as a “friendly, refurbished bar on a picturesque bay”. But it has also become the local inn that many locals avoid.

Residents in Glenuig in Lochaber are boycotting the Glenuig Inn because they feel it has lost its former charm. Instead, they travel eight miles to the next nearest “local” and have also set up a weekly social club in the village hall.

But the landlord claims the inn, on the shores of the south of Arisaig, about 35 miles west of Fort William, is more profitable than ever and says the changes he has made should be celebrated.

Steve MacFarlane bought the historic inn in 2007 and later gave the premises an extensive makeover with the help of a £180,000 grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. As well as putting in new rooms, a revamped bar and dining facilities in the 18th-century building, he installed energy-efficient fixtures and replaced a wooden chalet with bunkhouse accommodation. He has also developed a sea kayaking centre from the premises.

But many of the 35-strong local population say they are staying away as the pub is now “sterile” and lacks atmosphere. One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “No one likes to go to the Glenuig Inn for a number of reasons. It’s not a very welcoming place.

“The whole character of the place has changed, it doesn’t feel like a local bar any more.”

Another said: “The atmosphere is terrible. I can’t think of anyone who goes there now.

“It has ripped the heart out of the community; it’s very unfortunate. The place has been done up and I’m sure it’s very nice, but it’s not much use having a nice pub without any people.”

A third claimed that since arriving in Glenuig, McFarlane had shown an “unfortunate unwillingness” to learn how communities function in the Highlands.

He had also “sought to impose his own notions and rules on an already thriving community.

“With his intransigent attitude he has alienated many locals and regular visitors alike,” the resident said, adding that the local community has a long history of enterprise and innovation, having run one of the first major music festivals in Scotland and created a major arts venue of national renown in Glenuig Hall.

MacFarlane has been a controversial character since moving to the area and was previously involved in a dispute with fishermen and boat owners over moorings in Glenuig Bay. They had moored their boats in the bay without consent or charge for many years but feared this would be lost after MacFarlane applied to the Crown Estate to set up ten commercial moorings to attract visiting yachts.

The dispute was settled last year after a public meeting when an agreement was reached to allow most of the moorings to remain free.

Last month, an industrial tribunal also unanimously decided that MacFarlane had unfairly sacked his head chef, Lynn Waddell, in 2009. Dr Michael Foxley, a local councillor and leader of Highland Council, believes reconciliation over a pint is no longer possible.

“Its an extremely unfortunate situation,” Foxley said. “He has put a huge amount of money and effort into Glenuig Inn, but just about everything that he’s done has succeeded in driving the local population away from using it.

“This type of situation occurs from time to time in the west Highlands and I’ve never known the local community to return until there is a change of ownership.”

However, MacFarlane says he will not be leaving: “I’ve a great little business here and I’m not going anywhere.”

He said he took over a “basically bankrupt” business and turned it into one which had attracted thousands of staying customers.

“If I’m guilty of something then it’s of not being tolerant of people swearing, who wish to get hammered and not leaving when asked to.

“People are not going to be abusive, behave in an out-of-order way and be drunk, swearing and generally use foul behaviour on my premises. If those are the ones that are getting upset then fine.

“For every one person who won’t come through my door now there are at least 10 who do come, who live in the locality and say ‘at last, the place needed something done to it’.

“Glenuig Inn was recently shortlisted for an energy award, sponsored by the Scottish Government, in the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (Vibes) Awards 2011. The winners will be announced next month.MacFarlane said: “This is something that we should be celebrating. If a few people don’t want to come in, there are thousands that do. People have been boycotting me for some time but I’m more profitable than ever.”