New High Street book shop opens in Fort William
OWNERS of Fort William’s new book shop say they hope it will become the ‘ centre for culture’ in the town.
The Highland Book Shop was officially opened in High Street last week by author Alexander MacCall Smith, a British writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. The High Street shop is the brainchild of owners of the Watermill Bookshop in Aberfeldy, Kevin and Jayne Ramage. Watermill has previously won UK independent bookshop of the year. The owners have transformed the eyesore building in six weeks. Kevin told the Lo
chaber Times: ‘It’s been a lot of hard work, but so enjoyable, and the response from local people has been overwhelming.’ Plans for shop, which houses a general selection of Scottish books, history and travel books, will see the upstairs of the building made into an exhibition space.
Lochaber-based author and entrepreneur Angus MacDonald is collaborating with the couple on the independent bookshop.
Angus, author of Ardnish Was Home, said: ‘We would like the upper level to have a coffee shop and exhibitions. It could be used for books signings, talks and lectures. People say a good book shop can become the cultural centre of a town. I think a book shop was what was missing from Fort William.’
Kevin added: ‘We are keen to use it as a lecture room or for talks on nature, mountaineering and world culture.'