Food For Thought?

Back in September, the Ross-shire Journal reported that an Inverness chef and hotel manager has applied for planning consent to turn the Grade-B listed station building at Tain into a "destination" restaurant at a cost of half-a-million pounds. It would create more than fifteen full- and part-time jobs with local youngsters being actively targeted by a training scheme. The restaurant would be open-plan with the kitchen in full view of diners and it proposed that the outside area under the platform canopy would enable al fresco dining. A small retail facility is in the plans which could include a tourist information centre. It would be nice to think that rail information and ticketing facilities might also be available. Corbridge in the Tyne valley has an Indian restaurant in its station building and offers an option called A Passage to India. It includes travel by rail from and to Newcastle-upon-Tyne during which patrons can order their four-course meal. They are also able to purchase an aperitif en route. If the Tain proposal comes to fruition it would be nice to think that a similar scheme could operate on the Far North Line from Inverness and intermediate stations.