Kintyre café named one of Scotland’s top five tearooms

“Under the ownership of the Taylors, who brought me in as general manager two years ago, we’ve worked hard to turn Glenbarr Stores into a true destination within Kintyre,” he said.

“Since then, we’ve tackled key improvements – replacing boilers, refurbishing the café flooring, and transforming the old village shop into a beautiful gift store stocked with the best Scottish produce. 

“We focus on quality, sourcing from suppliers not typically available in the area, using only the finest ingredients in our café, and baking everything fresh in-house.”

The team has also expanded the company’s offerings, refurbishing the greenhouse into a stunning floral dining space from April to September and hosting seasonal events including a Hallowe’en walkabout and Christmas grotto, which have become beloved traditions for people across Kintyre. 

“With our bed and breakfast, garden centre, and café, we’re creating something truly unique,” added George.

“Looking ahead, we have exciting plans, including a new development on cleared land behind the store, the relaunch of afternoon teas for Mother’s Day, a new honesty box launching in March, and ongoing training for young staff in baking and customer service.  

“Most see Glenbarr Stores as a real asset to the area, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support of our team and the local community. We also believe this is just the beginning for Kintyre as a whole. 

“With fantastic businesses like Torrisdale Estate, Machrihanish Dunes, and Springbank Distillery leading the way, we’re excited to be part of a growing tourism revival.  

“I live and work in the village so Glenbarr means a lot to me and my family – my partner Jodie and one-year-old Robyn – so we only want the best for the village, of which we believe Glenbarr Stores is the heartbeat. 

“We, of course, thank all our staff, past and present as none of this would be possible without them.” 

George hails from Chelmsford in Essex but moved to Kintyre from Herm, one of the Channel Islands.

“I spent nearly eight years on Herm Island as head of island retail, where I met Jodie in our first year there,” he said. “Since she’s from Scotland, we made the move up here when the Taylors gave us the opportunity. 

“Trading in year-round sunshine for Kintyre’s slightly... brisker summers has been an adjustment, but the safety, scenery, and sense of community here are unbeatable. 

“We wouldn’t have made the move if we didn’t genuinely believe Kintyre is an area on the rise.”