Loch Ness restaurant barge seeks monster bid
26 April 2008
Scottish Plant and Machinery team is charting new territory
A barge restaurant used to entertain tourists hoping for a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster has been put up for sale.
The Loch Ness Barge Seafood Restaurant has served lunch to thousands of Nessie hunters over the past five years but with owners Highland Cruising Ltd, now in administration, new buyers are needed for the barge.
It is being sold by property consultants King Sturge’s Plant and Machinery division who are seeking offers in excess of £250,000.
The sale represents a unique disposal for King Sturge who were instructed by administrator Tenon Recovery.
The barge, originally called ‘Fairway’ was built as a steam-grabbing dredger in 1946 by Aberdeen-based Hall Russell. Length 65 ft by a 23 ft beam, it was extensively renovated five years ago and rebuilt as a floating restaurant and pleasure craft, operated with three crew members.
The restaurant provides around 40 covers which can be increased in good weather by opening up the top deck.
The vessel is currently moored at Seaport Marina in Inverness, at the head of the Caledonian Canal, which is a very popular and beautiful Scottish tourist area.
Iain Fraser of Tenon Recovery, comments “It is a unique asset disposal and we expect it to attract considerable interest.”
Gordon Calder, a partner at King Sturge added: “We are charting new territory with this disposal and are confident that the vessel can be sold either as a restaurant or floating home.”
