Ewebrew gets the go-ahead to open Poolewe Tap House

A local business is all set to open a new tap house and eatery in Poolewe "very soon" after officials granted the venture planning permission to open in the village hall annexe.

Backed with cash from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the proposal also won the "wholehearted support" of Wester Loch Ewe Community Council. There were no objections from locals to the plans.

The new venue will showcase Ewebrew beers, as well as other locally produced food and drink, all year round. In the winter season it is likely the tap room will open for two to three days per week, rising to six days per week in the summer.

Ewebrew have said that they will serve "light bites" using a panini press, an air fryer and a slow cooker. The existing Ewebrew pizza truck will sometimes add to the food offer by operating from the car park outside as well.

It hasn't been entirely plain sailing for Ewebrew though. The nearest domestic house is just 25 metres away and Environmental Health Officers have insisted on a condition in the planning permission that prohibits the use of deep fat fryers at the new Tap Room over concerns that the smells generated could affect nearby residents.

Initial proposals from Ewebrew also set out plans to serve up to 25 people in the building, with room for 10 more people outside. But council building control officials have limited this to just 18 customers at any one time and there will now be no outdoor seating. The restrictions were put in place because there is only one toilet available at the annexe.

James Struthers, of the Loch Ewe Brewing Company, said: "Receiving planning permission was certainly a major milestone for the project and one of the final key hurdles in allowing us to move forward with opening the Ewebrew Tap Room & Eatery.

"As with any hospitality venue, there are naturally still a number of operational and compliance elements to finalise behind the scenes, but we are now in a position to begin opening the doors in a limited capacity.

And he said that May 9 would see a "soft launch" for the new venue.

"This Saturday evening will effectively act as a soft start for the venue. The intention is to train staff in a live environment, fine-tune operations, and deal with any early snags before we move towards a more formal official opening shortly afterwards.

"We’re incredibly grateful for the support and patience shown by the local community throughout the process. The Tap Room is something we believe can become a real asset for Poolewe — showcasing local beer, food, music and hospitality while helping strengthen the wider visitor offering in the area."

According to the planning application: "Occasional small-scale music events may be held during the off-season only.

"These would be infrequent, low-key, and primarily acoustic or low-amplification in nature, finishing well before 11:00pm and managed to ensure no adverse impact on neighbouring properties."

Pre-opening images from the new tap house show that there will be a bar area with views to Loch Ewe, a kitchen area and an internal seating area with church pews, a "naughty corner" and Wi-Fi.