Trust to take over running of village hall visited by The Beatles

A community group is set to take over the management of the Highlands' historic Strathpeffer Pavilion next month.

Built more than 140 years ago, visitors to the village hall have included suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, Kaiser Chiefs and The Beatles, after the band abandoned a gig in Dingwall.

Strathpeffer Pavilion Community Trust (SPCT) has been in partnership with the current operators High Life Highland (HLH) since 2020.

The trust said it felt like the right time to take full control of the pavilion's operations. The official hand over is set for 31 March.

SPCT said all current bookings for the pavilion would remain in place, with both parties fully focused on a smooth transition.

A spokesperson said: "The five-year partnership with High Life Highland has seen us jointly develop Strathpeffer Pavilion into a well respected music, community and wedding events venue."

HLH head of leisure Graeme Ross said they had been looking after the venue in the knowledge that, at some point, the trust would take over operations.

He said: "High Life Highland is handing over a healthy order book to the trust and we wish it and the wider community every success for the future."

Strathpeffer Pavilion was opened by the Countess of Cromartie in 1881.

The Beatles visited the venue in 1963.

According to local people, the band abandoned a gig in Dingwall after only about 19 people turned up and they went to the pavilion to see Highland band The Melotones.

In 2008, Kaiser Chiefs played to a few hundred fans in Strathpeffer Pavilion ahead of a gig at Elland Road Stadium in Leeds.