Skye chef opens 'pay what you can' whole food cafe

Summarised from BBC Highlands And Islands's report · Updated 5 Nov, 06:44 · Archive

Chef John Coghill has launched Araich, a whole food cafe on Skye operating on a 'pay what you can' model.

Chef John Coghill has opened Araich, a 'pay what you can' whole food cafe in a former woollen mill in Portree on Skye. Coghill is pledging to put the health and wellbeing of the island community ahead of profits through the venture, which operates as a community interest company.

The cafe launched by providing free lunches to more than 90 school pupils at Portree High School in late September, before opening to the wider community in October. Coghill said there is no obligation to pay at Araich, but they would ask for a contribution, which 'could be a smile, a thank you, an offer of a little help in the kitchen, or painting walls'. He hopes enough people who are financially able will pay for meals to make the venture sustainable.

Coghill previously ran a health food truck from 2022 and comes from a family that owned and ran Skye's Sligachan Hotel for more than 100 years. His culinary experience includes work at Harris, Aviemore, Chamonix and The Three Chimneys restaurant on Skye. The cafe operates with a limited menu of several healthy food options prepared in large quantities to keep costs as low as possible. In future, there are hopes for a wholefood shop in the building.

Read the report

• Skye chef pledges health before wealth at 'pay what you can' cafeAraich has been set up in a former woollen mill in Portree and offers healthy food options.BBC Highlands And Islands · 4 Nov, 14:03

In this story: John Coghill · Araich · Portree · Skye · Portree High School

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