Opportunity to apply for an ice cream concession in the grounds of Inverness Castle Experience
Background
The Inverness Castle Experience will be a new visitor attraction in the centre of Inverness, celebrating the 'spirit of the Highlands' through its stories of past, present and future, it will take you on an interactive journey through landscaped gardens to the South Tower, a sensory experience, inspired by stories from across the Highlands about its landscape, culture, heritage and people. In the North Tower, the Ceilidh Rooms will offer a place for people to come together to share the best of Highland music, food and drink. Visitors will be able to enjoy a refreshment in the Bistro and glorious views over the River Ness from the terrace or find the perfect gift whilst browsing in the Castle shop. Opening in late summer 2025, the experience is estimated to attract between 300,000-500,000 visitors per year, with the peak season being April to September inclusive.
What we need
We are looking to award a contract for a mobile ice cream sales concession unit situated within the Castle grounds, adjacent to the Saltire Bistro.
What we are looking for
This offer is for one mobile ice cream sales unit to operate in the area agreed between the parties. The exact location for the ice cream sales unit will be decided between the supplier and High Life Highland in advance of opening. The unit must be presented to a high standard and must meet all current health and safety and hygiene legislation.
Mandatory requirements
We are looking for a vendor with a mobile ice cream unit to provide onsite services for a minimum of 5 days a week in the low season (October to March), two of these days should be Saturday and Sunday and 7 days per week in the high season (April to September).
Whilst hours of operation must remain consistent with our regular opening hours, actual trading hours are flexible subject to demand. The vendor will not be permitted to sell anything other than ice cream, frozen plant-based products, ice lollies and similar items of a frozen nature. Hot and cold drinks and other food products are not covered by this agreement and cannot be sold under this agreement.
Subject to local planning and byelaws, the unit can be left on-site at the end of each day; however, no guarantee of security can be given, and the supplier should make adequate insurance arrangements. All signage, litter, and waste must be cleared at the end of each day, and the site left tidy.
An applicant’s unit should be available for inspection prior to the issue of any permission, and a recent photograph of the unit should be included with any submission. Regular audits will be carried out by High Life Highland throughout the permission period, and the operator must be registered with the relevant environmental health department.
The successful applicant will be required to produce proof of Public Liability Insurance of ten million pounds minimum cover. The successful candidate will also be held responsible for maintaining the garden and outside areas free of any litter arising from sales, and providing adequate litter bins/collection points for customers. Removal of litter from the site will be the responsibility of the food and beverage sales provider.
The successful applicant will be required to register their food business with the relevant Local Authority before trading. Evidence of Food Hygiene Certificates and other health and safety requirements will be required.
The licence holder will be responsible for any rates and taxes that may be levied on the concession by the appropriate authorities.
High Life Highland reserves the right to close the site during periods of severe weather.
No claim will be entertained for reduction in visitor numbers or sales or any other reason resulting from the High Life Highland programme or for any other reasons beyond their control.
In line with our health and wellbeing messages, High Life Highland is keen to encourage high-quality and healthy food options as well as low food miles to support our sustainability drive. A sample menu with prices must be included with your bid.
Environmental Responsibility
High Life Highland work hard to leave a positive impact on the environment, and we are looking for partners with the same ethos. Where possible, local supplies should be used to reduce food miles. Single-use plastics should not be used, and we require the use of reusable, recyclable or biodegradable food and drink containers. We welcome innovation from tenders to improve the environmental standards of the refreshment unit.
Healthy Eating
The concession should provide a range of healthy eating options and ensure customer dietary requirements are well met. (plant-based and sorbets, for example)
Turnover reporting
There will be a requirement for the operator to provide High Life Highland with accurate monthly turnover figures. These will need to be supported with copies of reports from your payment device, reports that detail individual days' gross takings.
The Fee
The permission will be subject to a fee of 20% of gross turnover plus VAT, payable monthly by invoice.
Further information
We will require the successful applicant to take card payments only on a suitable system with back-end reporting that can be provided to High Life Highland monthly.
Utilities: Power is available on site. Water is available from a nearby tap; however, this must be carried to the site in a suitable container. Wastewater can be disposed of at an agreed point.
Lighting: There is outdoor lighting around the Castle.
Standing: The mobile ice cream pitch is on hard standing.
Site opening hours (tbc)
The South Tower experience / North Tower will be open:
April to October 0800hrs to 1800hrs (last admissions)
November to March 0900hrs to 1600hrs (last admissions)The Saltire Bistro will open as above and then serve drinks, hot/ cold and alcoholic, along with light snacks till 2130 hrs, April to October and then mirror the site opening hours, November to March.
There will be special events and extended openings at other times according to demand and bookings.
High Life Highland reserves the right to offer additional mobile food and beverage sales to meet demand at special events and at key times.
Interested parties
Should you wish to put forward a Note of Interest in this Concession Agreement, please send an email to [email protected]. Please entitle the email - Inverness Castle Experience – Ice Cream Concession Agreement - please include the name of the unit and your contact details within the body of the email. Please ensure this is submitted by Monday, 26th May
Full details will be issued to all interested parties on Monday, 2nd Jun,e with a closing date of Monday 16th June.