Chefs in Scotland (CIS), a specialist recruitment agency based in the town, are still keen to transform the vacant Mercury Motor Inn on Station Road into a state-of-the-art business and training centre.
Archtitect’s impressions have now been drawn up of the new look site, which would see a two-floor building with vast office space, conference space and training areas erected in place of the eyesore inn, which has been empty since 1999.
The drawings also show sizeable visitor and staff parking areas. Designers, Moffat based White Hill Design Studio, have also created a second extended plan, which offers more office space.
The drawings were sent to the inn’s owners, the Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM), on Tuesday this week. Managing director of CIS Michael Tough is hopeful that EWM will get onboard with the project, after the company previously made known their interest in seeing the architect’s impressions.
Mr Tough said: “We have sent details of proposed drawings to Edinburgh Woollen Mill and I hope that they will be keen to have further discussions with us.
“If not, we are considering other options open to us at Chefs In Scotland as our business continues to grow and to develop.”
He added: “We will keep the ‘cook school’ idea on the backburner and continue growing our core business which is chef recruitment in Scotland, enabling CIS to employ and to nurture good local people.”
Mr Tough says no matter what happens, CIS have no plans to leave Moffat but he remains optimistic that the Mercury site could become their new home.
CIS are looking to occupy some of the office space and also hope to let out some of the space to interested parties. Langholm based Edinburgh Woollen Mill were unavailable to comment at the time of print.
