Trust to take over cafe in 300-year-old harbour building

A cafe in a historic Aberdeenshire harbour building is being bought by a trust as part of efforts to conserve the area.

The Port House Cafe is part of the category A-listed 300-year-old Merchant's House at Portsoy.

The North East Scotland Preservation Trust intends to keep the business running to continue its contribution to the local economy.

The purchase is being made using funds left to the trust through the legacy of the late local businessman Tom Burnett-Stuart.

As part of long-running restoration efforts, the trust already owns a collection of harbour buildings neighbouring the cafe.

While the trust will own the property, it will be looking for an operator of the cafe, who will rent it from them.

"We see the economic regeneration of the harbour area being incredibly important," said Paul Higson, a project director with the trust.

"The cafe is currently very popular with the locals and the visitors to Portsoy.

"We want to provide the continuity of there still being a cafe there, which we hope the community will enjoy.

"And obviously there's the potential for local employment, and purchase of local produce and many other benefits to the people who live in Portsoy.