Inverness cafe set to open with focus on health and nutrition

A new café with a focus on health and nutrition is set to open its doors in Inverness.

Mariners Catering, based in Carsegate Road beside the Forge Gym premises, will offer a range of wholesome, nutritious foods designed to satisfy every craving without compromising on health.

The venture is the brainchild of Dan (23) and Emma (27) Lynch, who, in addition to launching the café, also welcomed their first child into the world just a few weeks ago.

The couple have been operating Mariners Catering since 2023, delivering bespoke, ready-to-go meals tailored to suit a wide variety of dietary needs and lifestyles.

Recently, they held an open day, inviting members of the public to sample their menu. The response, they said, exceeded all expectations.

Dan said: “We’ve had this plan for the last three years and I’ve been in hospitality for the past 10 years.

“One of the things I’ve struggled with personally when it comes to fitness is meal planning. I just thought, why not help others by taking that pressure off?

“Initially, some people said it wouldn’t work, so we shelved the idea for a while and focused on other areas of the business.

“After we started working out of Forge Gym and chatting to the members here, we realised there was a real appetite for what we wanted to offer.

“We kept walking past this empty unit and saying how perfect it would be. One day, while Emma was at a scan with her mum, I was sitting with a coffee and just thought—why not ask?

“Within five minutes of messaging, they got back to us. We had a look around and knew straight away it was exactly what we needed to bring this idea to life.”

Their son, who was due at the start of March, arrived towards the end of the month—adding an extra layer of challenge to getting everything ready.

Emma added: “We just decided it was now or never. At first, we hadn’t considered doing a café, but when we saw the space had a seating area, it just made sense to expand the idea.

“We’ll be serving high-protein, nutritious food that still feels indulgent. Our aim is to blur the line between what people think of as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food.

“The ice cream, for example, is made fresh, low in fat and high in protein—perfect for anyone looking for a guilt-free treat.”

The couple’s meal prep service has already proven incredibly popular. Customers can reach out directly with their dietary preferences and goals, and Dan works closely with them to tailor each order.

Dan said: “It’s like having your own personal chef—just not in your kitchen! People can sign up weekly, and if there’s something they don’t like, we’ll change it.

“We’re fully booked at the moment, but that’s because we don’t want to take on too much and risk the quality slipping. This is a passion project, and we’re growing it carefully, with quality at the forefront.”

Dan spends hours designing individualised menus, sourcing fresh, local produce wherever possible.

Dan added: “We want to make sure everything is top quality and support other local producers as we grow. The more we grow, the more they can grow too—it’s a win-win.”

Customers can collect their meals once or twice a week from the unit on Carsegate Road or from a second pick-up point in Dingwall.

Despite the demands of a new business and a newborn, Dan is still working full-time elsewhere, while Emma is currently on maternity leave.

Emma said: “Once I’m back from maternity, I’ll be taking on more of the café side. For now, we’re opening two days a week—Monday and Tuesday from 8am to 1pm, and again from 4pm to 9pm, plus Thursday evenings.”

Feedback from their taster day has been overwhelmingly positive, with people praising items like protein shakes, pancakes, rice bowls, and fresh salads.

Dan said: “We want to be great at what we do—not just good. That’s the goal. Everything we offer is designed to fuel people’s lives in a healthy, tasty, and accessible way.”

Mariners Catering opens today (April 21).

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