Charleston cafe boasts green credentials

Pictured are (back, left to right) Robbie Sheriffs (Cafe-eco Manager) and Tom Wall (Charleston Community Complex Management), (front, left to right) Anya McDonald and Ishbel Barr at the launch of the eco cafe

A cafe offering customers healthy food and employing green practices has opened in Inverness.

Cafe-eco, based at Charleston Community Complex, was launched by Charleston Academy’s eco-school group members Ishbel Barr and Anya MacDonald.

Two years ago the cafe closed after former proprietor Heidi Marshall refused to stop selling soft drinks, crisps and sweets to school pupils.

Despite a petition signed by 400 people backing the 50-year-old, and an outcry amongst her customers, Charleston Community Complex management committee said it had no option but to serve Mrs Marshall with notice to quit as Scottish government legislation prevented outlets on school property from selling unhealthy food to pupils.

Supported by both Highland Council and the complex’s management committee, the new cafe, run in partnership with Charleston Academy, will offer customers fairtrade products and also use disposable plates and cutlery which will be composted over a six to 10-week period.

Welcoming the innovative cafe, chairman of Charleston Community Complex management committee, Tom Wall, thinks it will be a major benefit.

"I don’t think there is anything like this in the Highlands," he said.

"The cafe will offer something that is local, something that is nice and comfortable and somewhere the community can drop in for a cup of coffee and a scone.

"The cafe is for the whole community."

Delighted to be providing the people of Inverness with an alternative to the existing cafe culture, Cafe-eco proprietor Robbie Sheriffs, believes it will be a success.

Mr Sheriffs said it would be working towards a Consumer Focus Scotland’s healthyliving award including the exclusion of salt from cooking.

A loyalty card scheme, where people can enjoy free drinks, will be also be available with school pupils receiving discount vouchers.

Café-eco is open Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm, with hot breakfast and porridge to start each day.

A council spokesman said it did not believe the cafe would affect the school canteen but would instead offer an alternative venue for pupils to enjoy healthy food.