A former newsagents, which had served the Tarbert community on the Isle of Harris for 35 years, has been transformed into Nook & Scranny – a guesthouse and conveniece store specialising in freshly prepared food.
Owners Graham Kay and Laura Burt, who is a chef by trade, purchased the business last July, and recently secured a £25,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme via Virgin StartUp, which funded renovations and a new kitchen. This enabled the store to introduce a ‘chef’s counter’ offering freshly prepared sandwiches, take-home meals, such as Buddha bowls, pastries and breads, and Laura’s own homemade ice cream.
Laura said: “We hadn’t planned to take on a new business so quickly, but when the building came on the market, it felt like the right opportunity. We’ve been working around the clock to renovate the premises and fit the deli kitchen. Our goal is to keep the shop reliable for locals; offer a wide range of healthy food through the deli; and provide flexible stay options so more people can enjoy everything Harris has to offer. Ultimately, we want Nook & Scranny to be a welcoming place for everyone.”
The business is already making its mark at local events and is set to cater the HebCelt music festival in Stornoway this July. Laura and Graham bring extensive experience from their West Highland Way deli, Turnip the Beet, which has operated for ten years and catered at major events, including backstage for artists at TRNSMT, the OVO Hydro and the SEC Armadillo.
Laura and Graham hope Nook & Scranny will become the go-to destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a blend of convenience, healthy and high-quality food, and comfortable accommodation in the heart of Tarbert.
Since launching in 2012, the Start Up Loans programme has provided £1.5m of funding to businesses in Argyll and Bute. On average, each business owner has received £10,821 as well as being offered support in areas such as marketing, business development, and business plan writing.
Barry McCulloch, senior manager, UK Network, Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: “Laura and Graham have taken a long-standing local shop and turned it into a multi-faceted business with huge potential. Nook & Scranny combines essential services for the local community with a deli offering a premium range of food and drinks, alongside welcoming rooms for visitors to stay. This is exactly the kind of business that strengthens both the local economy and tourism. We’re proud the Start Up Loans programme could play a role in bringing their vision to life.”
Diana Greenhalgh, operations lead at Virgin StartUp, added: “Backing founders at the right moment can make all the difference. It’s great to see Nook & Scranny going from strength to strength and we’re proud to have supported Laura and Graham on their journey. The positive impact they’re already having within their community shows how businesses like this play an important role in supporting local economies and bringing people together.”
Locals have praised the store’s freshly prepared food with customer, Davie, raving: “It is a lovely wee place and the scran on offer at their deli counter is outstanding, highly recommend”.
