Highland Hospice cafe at Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness set for shock closure
A cafe at the Eastgate Shopping Centre is set for a shock closure.
Just five months after being closed for a fortnight for a big refurbishment, the ground floor In the City Cafe has confirmed it will shut in May.
The refurbishment aimed to create a haven for book lovers and coffee enthusiasts alike.
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The cafe is run by Highland Hospice, with proceeds helping the charity.
A hospice spokesperson said: “We have taken the decision to close our In the City Café in May, after five years of business.
“Despite having an incredible team of staff and volunteers committed to providing great customer service, as well as a loyal group of customers, it remains challenging to make a surplus on a regular basis. Unfortunately, with increasing costs due to National Insurance, food inflation and another uptick in energy prices, we are unable to forecast a change to this situation.
“We would like to thank all our In the City Café staff, volunteers and customers for their loyalty over the years.”
The charity would not comment on what the decision meant for its staff.
A regular customer said: “Not only is this [the hospice] a very worthy local charity, the coffee shop is well used by locals and visitors alike.
“Many of us are of the silver-haired brigade - I am 84 - who find the ground floor access so good. It is excellent for wheelchairs and children’s buggies.
“The cafe staff are excellent. It will be a great loss.”
It comes days after exciting news about the shopping centre’s food zone securing a new operator.
Eastgate Shopping Centre has been approached for comment.
