Latest News
Thanks to Tom Duff of LDN architects for this great photograph, taken in March 2005 from a very high place!
Kaiser Chiefs Sold Out at the Pavilion!
It was confirmed on 16th April that the very popular indie band from Yorkshire will appear at the Pavilion on 19th and 20th May, with support yet to be confirmed. Tickets at £25 went on general sale at 9 am on 18th April and the limited number of tickets allocated to the Pavilion sold out within an hour (thebooth sold out in 5 minutes!). We have since been told by DF Concerts that both events were completely sold out by 10.30! Many local fans have of course bought tickets but KC fans are also travelling to the gigs from far and wide - one that we have heard of from Cornwall and even one from Germany! We hope all will enjoy their visit to the Highlands. STOP PRESS: you might have a chance to win the last two remaining tickets! See our What's On page.
General Manager
Andrea Muir, who took up the post of General Manager of the Pavilion in July 2007. Photo by Iain Sarjeant.
Friends of the Pavilion
Art Fair
The Pavilion's fourth annual Art Fair, organised by Friends of the Pavilion in November, was bigger and better than ever - a stunning display of more than 430 original works by over 100 Highland artists. As in 2006, the Art Fair was sponsored by Cameron & Paterson Homes Ltd, (recently taken over by Tulloch Homes).
 During the event, well over 1,000 people visited the Pavilion, which was full of light, colour and bustle in contrast to the grey November weather. The value of art sold this year was a record-breaking £28,000 - commission on these sales, together with hanging fees, a raffle and the sale of teas, will enable the Friends of the Pavilion to make yet another large contribution to the fund to finish furnishing and equipping the Pavilion.
Grateful thanks from all of us to the host of volunteers who helped with the event, to the artists who exhibited their work and to everyone who visited the Art Fair and helped to make it such a resounding success.
Capercaillie at the Pavilion!
Scotland's top traditional group, Capercaillie, gave a brilliant performance to an enthusiastic crowd at the Pavilion on 15 November. They were supported by up-and-coming singer/songwriter Roddy Hart.
And Little Feat at the Pavilion!
Thanks to Steve Macdonald of Square Wheels bike shop, who is one of their most ardent fans, the guitarists from the legendary band Little Feat performed to a full house in the Pavilion in October.
Highland 2007
2007 - the year when Scotland celebrated Highland Culture
2007 - a'bhliadhna a chomharraicheas Alba cultar na Gaidhealtachd
All sorts of events and projects took place throughout the Highlands and Islands - see Highland 2007 website. A number of these were in the Pavilion and Highland 2007 awarded us a capital grant to help us buy additional equipment to stage these events. As a result, major work has been done to upgrade the sound, lighting and accoustics in the main hall.
MacLean Electrical Supports the Pavilion
John MacLean & Sons Electrical (Dingwall) Limited generously donated £10,000 towards the fund to furnish and equip the Pavilion. MacLean's, which is one of Britain’s leading independent electrical wholesalers, is based in Dingwall and has divisions throughout the UK and overseas. Since then, MacLean's also installed Victorian-style lamp-posts to improve the lighting around the Pavilion.
The company's founder and Chairman, prominent local businessman John R. MacLean, is one of the Pavilion's Patrons and has taken a keen interest in the progress of the project. He sees the Pavilion as a tremendous potential asset for local businesses, as well as for the whole Highland community. After a visit to the site during restoration work, he said, “The Pavilion is a spectacular building and it’s wonderful to see it being restored. It will be a first-class venue for business conferences and other corporate events, as well as for events and functions in general.”
Railings have now been added to the front steps, thanks to the generosity of a supporter who wishes to remain anonymous. The lights and railings enhance the appearance of the building as well as making its approaches safer and more convenient.
Restaurant in the Pavilion
The RedPoppy Restaurant @ the Pavilion offers a range of local produce cooked to the highest standards, with first-class service, for:
The restaurant entrance and parking are on the bandstand side of the Pavilion and it is normally open from Tuesday to Thursday 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm and for Sunday lunch from 12.30 to 4 pm. Hours may vary depending on events in the Pavilion - you would therefore be well advised to reserve your table on 01997 423 332 or mobile 07859 907 151
Golf Tournament
 Grateful thanks to Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club, who organised an open tournament to support the on-going effort to furnish and equip the Pavilion. Thanks also to the main sponsors, Mackays of Dingwall, to the businesses who sponsored each hole and to the 150 or so competitors who braved the dreadful weather that day to take part in the event! Here is a photo (stolen from their website!) showing a view over the spectacularly scenic course, which boasts the longest drop from tee to green of any course in Scotland.
Pavilion Garden Group
A voluntary local group has been doing sterling work in the Pavilion Gardens for a number of years and works for a couple of hours a week, usually on Wednesday evenings, in spring and summer. The group always welcomes new volunteers - no gardening expertise is necessary. More information from Morag Polson on 421421 or Marie Tait on 421387.
Letter from America
 Yes it's really true, The Proclaimers performed at the Pavilion - the event sold out within days and you can see a short video here - many thanks to Jason Shand for that. Before the event, we had an enquiry (actually an e-mail from America rather than a letter) from Jan, who then came all the way from Chicago to see the Proclaimers at the Pavilion! We hope she enjoyed both the gig and her visit to the Highlands!
The first Ross & Cromarty Heritage Fair, held in (and outside) the Pavilion in
March 2005. Picture courtesy of Andrew Dowsett
SPA gratefully acknowledges support by HIE Inverness & East Highland (formerly RACE) and The Highland Council. SPA is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status, Scottish Charity number SC 028241 VAT reg. no. 873 2032 40
Note from Webmaster: a lot of people have problems with how to spell or how to pronounce chef Nick's surname - Aburrow, pronounced "Aybro". Sometimes people try spelling him Nick Abro. I hope that my mentioning this will help you to find this page with info about Nick's RedPoppy Restaurant! I would also like you to find this page if you search for Red Poppy Restaurant as 3 words rather than 2, or Poppies or Poppy's Strathpeffer. Sometimes people even ask for the Red Pepper restaurant!
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