Aviemore pub given go-ahead to extend capacity of outdoor drinking garden

A popular Aviemore bar and restaurant has been given the go-ahead to extend its outdoor drinking area for up to 300 customers and to launch a new food and alcohol takeaway service.

The Old Bridge Inn – which has been a favourite with locals and visitors for decades – was given approval for a licence variation by members of the Highland Licensing Board at their latest meeting.

Aviemore Community Council had raised concerns that alcohol consumption and the River Spey which flows by the beer garden were not a good mix.

However, the watchdog's representative conceded that it was not aware of any incidents despite the area having been used for many years by customers enjoying a drink.

There were also concerns raised over potential access issues to the Spey for kayakers and other users but licensing officials said this was not a material consideration.

Old Bridge Inn bosses said they are happy to enter into talks with other parties to ensure access and signpost the launch point which is well used by Spey-goers.

Like many other establishments, the business extended its outdoor drinking area under temporary licensing laws during the Covid pandemic.

Owen Caldwell, who runs the Old Bridge Inn and was representing Glasgow-based owner Bigface Limited at the meeting, said the area had been an overspill car park but was now a popular spot with their customers and predominately families.

He said the application was a bid ‘to enshrine’ the current use.

He explained it was ‘not an attempt to driver further business’ but to allow the pub owners to improve the site.

“Three hundred is not a capacity we would be looking to hit on a regular basis. On a general basis we are talking about a maximum of 100 people,” Mr Caldwell continued.

“Half of that is already in our shelter which provides table service and the other half is in what was formerly the overspill car park.”

He said they would get more people in the outdoor area on exceptionally sunny days and occasional events such as their Summer Solstice Party.

“These are the only times we would hit these numbers which we have sought occasional licences for in the past. This would prevent us from having to do that and allow us to have semi-permanent infrastructure in place.

"That’s our thinking.”

Aviemore Community Council secretary Elspeth Byrne had told the hearing: “The community council is concerned about the safety of large numbers of people where alcohol is involved being close to the river.”

She said she had spoken to Mr Caldwell and appreciated they were trying to ‘mitigate things’ and acknowledged it was not a rowdy crowd but there could be issues at some of the bigger events held a few times a year.

Backing the bid, board member Sean Kennedy said: “This has been a drinking establishment in Aviemore for many years and does not seem to have any problems whatsoever.

“Getting a bit more capacity outside, I can not seen an issue with this.”

Earlier in the meeting the members had agree by the narrowest of margins – the chairwoman’s nod after a 4–4 vote – to hear two late objections with one being that from the community council.

The other objection was made in writing and included photographs and video and was circulated to board members and Mr Caldwell but not the public.

Officials pointed out at the meeting that issues raised about parking problems on Old Dalfaber Road were not a matter for the Highland Licensing Board either.

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