Brewery shop opens at Last House in John O'Groats
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PART of a £250,000 tourist attraction opened at a landmark site at John O'Groats this week.
The shop at the Last House started trading on Monday, although plans to create a brewery, tasting room and visitor centre there have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
John O'Groats Brewery hoped to have the development ready for this tourist season but Covid-19 altered its timescale, as director Andrew Mowat explained.
He said: "We have opened the shop but because of the coronavirus everything else is on hold. The brewery is now due to be installed in September. The audiovisual room is nearly ready. The tasting room is almost completed but not quite."
Mr Mowat pointed out that companies the brewery has been working with have had staff on furlough and are only coming back to work now restrictions are being eased.
"There's a lot of people up in Groats at the moment so we decided to open the shop, although it is not as fully stocked yet as we had hoped – but it was quite busy on Monday. People were keen to come in and spend some money, so that is good."
The London Beer Competition award is excellent for the brewery and shows we are moving forward.
The shop stocks beer, glasses, mugs, T-shirts, key rings and coasters as well as other souvenirs.
The brewery company has already tasted success after achieving its second medal at the London Beer Competition. It was awarded a silver medal recently for its Deep Groat stout. Last year it received a bronze medal.
"The award is excellent for the brewery and shows we are moving forward," said Mr Mowat, who runs the Seaview Hotel.
The development at the Last House will add to the existing brewery at the old fire station and boost the village's tourism appeal. The centre will have information about the area and how the beer is made.
The building is thought to be more than 100 years old and has previously been used as a shop, as well as a small museum.
John O’Groats Brewery was set up in 2015, with the first batch of beer ready by early 2016. It produces bottled beers, cask ales and some specials.
Meanwhile, there are plans for a micro whisky distillery at John O'Groats. The couple behind the venture, Kerry and Derek Campbell, from Thurso, hope it will create local employment and attract tourists.
Planning permission was granted earlier this year and it is hoped the distillery will open in 2021.
