Charming Bar and Restaurant in Coastal Village of Durness on Popular North Coast 500 route

• A charming bar and restaurant set within the rugged North Highlands in the picturesque coastal village of Durness with beautiful views across beaches and along rugged cliffs.
• Situated on the North Coast 500 Route, this established business currently trades profitably offering high quality food within a rustic circa 112-seat establishment.
• Spacious owner’s / staff accommodation with 4 bedrooms, a shower room and a lounge / dining room with open plan kitchen.
• Stunning and rarely available setting with a splendid outlook and an external seating area and 32 vehicle spaces.
• Presently operated as a restaurant and separate bar with potential for new owners to change the trading model (café etc.) to suit their own preferences.

DESCRIPTION
Sango Sands Oasis is a fantastically located property on the main road through Durness benefiting from excellent signage and a large car park immediately adjacent. The bar and restaurant are located in a beautiful setting with great views across the sand dunes and cliffs to the ocean beyond. This property has a charming character with exposed timber roof beams and attractive use of brick and wooden finishes providing a most rustic and natural ambience.

The original aspects of the building date back to the early 1800s, with more recent additions. Sango Sands Oasis is a well-established business which has a long trading history. The business is ideally situated to take advantage of the popular NC500, the users of the large adjacent campsite and the beautiful area surrounding the village. The building has a large footprint with two internal trading areas plus support facilities and an external grassed area offering an alfresco dining option during warmer weather. The restaurant and bar internal areas can each comfortably seat around 56 guests. The bar has a number of nooks, which provide a cosy and enjoyable bar experience.   The bar area also benefits from a wood burning stove.

In addition, there is spacious owners / staff accommodation situated in a 4-bed building located on the far side of the car park, making this a tremendous home and lifestyle opportunity. This business would ideally suit a couple with a hospitality background. The subjects offer new proprietors a range of possibilities regarding trading options all depending on personal choice.

TRADE
The business trades from mid-March until the start of November but could lend itself to a year-round trading model should this suit the personal preference of the new owners.  They own the campsite adjacent to the business and this feeds the bar and restaurant with a large number of customers.

The current owners recognise that the two facilities complement each other and are therefore looking forward to working with the new owners so both businesses thrive. There is undoubted potential to operate the business during the day time offering a generalist café service and lunches taking advantage of passing trade. The restaurant has around 56 covers internally and the bar also seats around 56 customers plus 2 picnic tables outside. Despite the restricted trading hours, the business generates a sound profit from a turnover of circa £480,000. The current operation relies on a fairly high level of staffing as the owners have other business commitments.

Sango Sands Oasis has a sound reputation for good quality food.  Benefitting from an excellent situation in an area of already established tourism and on the North Coast 500, the business benefits from a consistent level of trade.

Bar Opening Times:
Normal Hours – 12:00pm to 2:30pm and 5:00pm to 11:00pm

Restaurant Opening Times:
Normal Hours – 12:00pm to 2:30pm and 6:00pm to 8:30pm

LOCATION
The North West Coast of Scotland is famed for its spectacular countryside, rugged mountains, stunning coastline and beautiful beaches. The idyllic scenery and open spaces combine to make the area highly popular with those seeking a relaxing holiday in the Scottish Highlands. The region is renowned for its outdoor activities and there are Munro’s within the area plus many more leisurely walks, the most northernly Munro is Ben Hope. The coastal location supports sea-fishing, sea kayaking and sailing. Freshwater fishing amidst the unspoilt surroundings is another favoured option. The wide range of birdlife and animals roaming wild are a great attraction. Geology groups are often visiting the region and are attracted by the Geopark to the south near Scourie. The region is set along the North Coast 500 route which is increasingly drawing in visitors to the area.

The mountains and hills within the area offer walks for all ability levels and are home to many unique habitats for flora and fauna that attract visitors from all around the world. The largest sea cave in Britain is located close by.  Durness is an excellent base from which to explore the beautiful north west coast with Lochinver, Scourie and Kylesku close by.

The village and area of Durness has a range of facilities including a golf course, beaches, a hotel and guest houses, general store, Post Office and a filling station. Primary schooling is available within the village and secondary schooling is provided in Kinlochbervie.

REASON FOR SALE
The vendors have run the business for more than a generation and have enjoyed developing the trading aspects of this popular bar and restaurant. It is now their desire to focus on other business interests that brings this highly attractive opportunity to the market.

THE PROPERTY
The original building is of rendered stone/brick construction under a slate roof and was originally constructed in the early 1800s.  This part of the property is set over 2 floors, the upper floor being used for storage and staff welfare accommodation. The kitchen, restaurant and bar were constructed around 40 years ago and are of rendered block wall construction with a dual pitched metal profiled roof. The property benefits from excellent signage, 32 hard finished dedicated parking spaces which are located immediately adjacent to the building as well as a beautiful coastal location.

The separate owners / staff accommodation building is a single storey property.  This property is built of rendered block wall construction with a dual pitched metal profiled roof.  In addition to the living accommodation there is a store to one end of the property, accessed separately.  

THE BAR AND RESTAURANT
Access to the restaurant is through a single door from the car park leading into a lobby and thereafter into the restaurant area which has cubicle seating for 56 covers. This most attractive area has exposed brick detailing and is carpeted creating a lovely atmosphere. There is a doorway leading directly to the kitchen which aids ease of food service. The toilets can also be accessed directly from the restaurant.

The bar is separately accessed form the car park through lobby.  The bar offers seating for 56 covers.  This pleasant area has exposed brick detailing on the external walls, a wood-burning stove and mix of carpeted and hard flooring providing a lovely ambience. Located in the centre of the areas is an attractive wood panelled bar servery with a striking gantry behind. The beer store is located immediately separately behind the bar area.   From the main central area there are 4 further independent seating zones, including a conservatory, which provide a more intimate drinking experience with a variety of seating types. The bar has dedicated toilets located nearby.  The bar and restaurant are connected via a single door.

The pool table and gaming consoles are currently rented and we expect it will be possible to carry this arrangement forward.

SERVICE ACCOMMODATION
The business has a good level of service accommodation which includes a well-appointed commercial kitchen, preparation and pot-wash areas.  The business also has significant storage for freezers, dry goods and consumables within the original building area.  The public toilets are maintained at a good standard.

OWNERS / STAFF ACCOMMODATION
The private accommodation is accessed directly from the car park and comprises of 4 bedrooms; 3 double and 1 single, and a substantial open plan lounge / dining / kitchen, off which there is a shower room with WC.  The present operation allows for staff to utilise this building but the property would allow for spacious family accommodation. The property appears to be in good physical condition throughout, new owners may wish to redecorate.  There is the potential option of converting the storage located to one end of the building to extend the private accommodation.  

GROUNDS
Sango Sands Oasis is well sign-posted and is situated immediately adjacent to the camp site and cliffs overlooking the sandy beach below. There is a spacious grassed area to the rear of the property with lovely coastal views and set to 2 picnic benches. The 32-space hard finished car parking area is bordered by grass with direct access from the A838, occupying an area of circa 1 acre.

SERVICES
With mains electricity, water and drainage, the business uses calor gas for cooking and some space heating. The bar / restaurant benefits from localised LPG-fired central heating.  The domestic accommodation is electrically heated.

WEBSITE
The business has a functional website (https://sangosands.com). This covers both the Sango Sands campsite and the bar / restaurant.  The owners will edit out the bar / restaurant elements from their web site before the sale is concluded.  All bar / restaurant web base materials will be provided as part of the sale.