Ardrishaig Halls get a deluxe refurbishment, thanks to community investment in Allt Dearg Community Windfarm
Local tradesmen have gone“above and beyond” to turnArdrishaig’s community halls into modern, fit for purpose buildings which have become a hive of activity at the heart of the village.
When Ardrishaig Community Trust awarded Noremac Argyll Ltd the contract to complete the refurbishment of the main community hall and the North Hall in Chalmers Street, they secured the services of building brothers Duncan and Charles Cameron, who live in and grew up in the village.
And the trust has been blown away by the level of service and personal touches added to the job, with Duncan going all out with the design to make the best use of space available and provide the best possible facilities for Ardrishaig.
The main hall was built in 1907. In recent years it became damp, drafty and dilapidated. And the North Hall had also seen better days. Victorian toilets and cold damp buildings did not make for comfortable community spaces. But now the halls have gone from dingy to deluxe, an impressive transformation has taken place.
Ardrishaig Community Trust, which owns the halls, has used their income from Allt Dearg Community Windfarm to fund the works. Speaking about the main hall, Lynn Gorrie, trust director, said: “It was in a shocking condition. If the weather was cold, the hall was freezing, if it was hot, it was stifling.”
Now both halls have been completely renovated, with rewiring, new lighting, windows, doors, flooring, roofing, commercial kitchens and smart new toilets. The main hall even has its own “green room” for visiting entertainment acts (or brides) complete with shower, changing room and dressing table with lightbulbs illuminating the mirror.
And many of the historical original features in the North Hall, with its high ceilings, have been rescued. The work has been completed in phases by various local companies. And the final phase for the main hall began in October 2023, with breaks to allow important local events to take place.
Lynn said: “The presentation Noremac put together for the work was outstanding and so impressed us. “I walked round the halls with Duncan. I knew the vision we had and he managed to make it work. He expressed what would work and what wouldn’t. Duncan put so much thought into the design to make best use of the space and give it charm.
“From the start it was the personal touch from Noremac. They are a business, but this was personal to both Duncan and Charles. “It is their community hall. They are local men, born and bred in Ardrishaig, it is their village and they wanted everybody to see they were taking care of it. They have done a great job.” She said the company was conscious that its work will be seen for generations to come.
Sign up to our daily Newsletter
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
You may also like
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
© 2025 Wyvex Media Limited.