As Friends of Tarlair Trustees and their band of wonderful volunteers work to fulfill the dream of full site repairs we are looking for similarly enthusiastic people to join us.
Trustees positions to include someone with H.R. experience and/or Treasurer experience.
Having people on board who are potential pool users would be particularly positive.
Come to the Cafe to chat or contact: patwain51@hotmail.co.uk Tel. 07796 591759
Winter Opening Hours
Winter Openings for Tarlair Cafe on the dark, dark nights.
Open – 7 Days a week until December 19th at 15.00 when our lovely volunteers will enjoy a well deserved break until January 12th.
Opening times until December 19th 2025:
Monday until Saturday – 10.00 until 15.00 – lunches – 11.30 until 14.30
Sunday – Cakes, scones and all beverages only for now, with lunch being offered on Sundays in the near future. For now – 12.30 until 15.00
Our slightly earlier closing time of 15.00 will allow our volunteers who walk or catch buses to get up the road before dark. We are sure you will understand.
Many thanks to all our super customers. We are always delighted to see you on your return visits.
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Are you looking for the perfect place for a light lunch, a delicious cake and a great cup of coffee? Why not come and visit us at Tarlair and enjoy the every changing weather and scenery around the Pavilion from the comfort of our cafe. Our menus can be found here.
Friday 11 July 2025
Congratulations to our architects Studio Octopi, who received a Gold Award at the Scottish Design Awards Ceremony in recognition of their Conservation Design work for the Tarlair Pavilion, Macduff. It has been an absolute pleasure to be associated with their conservation journey on this well loved structure.
Sometimes we forget that to get a worthy conservation project over the line you need contractors with the capabilities to take on board all the challenges associated with that kind of work. We are lucky enough to have VG Willox Ltd Crimond to fill that role.
They intend to return on Tuesday 15th July to do some work between the pools which will enhance the pools appearance and assist with public safety while enjoying the ambience of the area.
Tuesday 1 July 2025
The Feasibility Study has now been completed by Studio Octopi, who we have fortunately managed to retain to continue to help us drive forward with this project. This large piece of work has been funded by AHF, Friends of Tarlair and Turcan Connel and will allow us to take this element of the project up to RIBA Stage 1. Substantial funding gained from Crown Estates will take us through RIBA Stages 2-3, which takes us up to Planning. At which point Friends of Tarlair will present our Business Plan to apply for asset transfer from Aberdeenshire Council. Should asset transfer be granted this will allow us to apply for Capital funding for the remaining conservation repairs.
Funding from Friends of Tarlair has been accumulating since the opening of our cafe, where we have employed 1 x cook alongside an army of volunteers, this allows all profits to go directly to the whole site renovation.
Since opening in March 2025, the cafe space has been well used with a consistent stream of visitors, many returning for a fine piece, a delicious bowl of soup and a hot (or cold) drink. During the hot spells we’ve recently experienced we’ve been especially glad to have Peter’s Ices on sale to help cool down our many patrons. Our cafe hours and menu can be found on our Facebook page. In addition to our cafe space our light and airy workshop is now available for hire, please contact Pat Wain on patwain51@hotmail.co.uk for further details.
Saturday 16 November 2024
Banff Castle Pipe Band welcome our guests to mark the completion of conservation repair work at Tarlair Pavilion.
Our celebratory gathering gave us the opportunity to thank Studio Octopi architects and their Team, Vince Willox contractors and their band of workers and many other professionals and members of the community who helped take the project to this fantastic conclusion.
Next step – to get the cafe and workshop open to the public.
Check out our facebook page here for more pictures, videos and content of what’s going on at Tarlair.
Sunday 1 September 2024
A fair bit more work done to establish our Just Transition Fund nature corridor thanks to the Trustees and Tony the strimmer trimmer.
So far the coastal hedgerow are doing well. Benches to recharge your batteries before tackling the brae, are on their way
Sunday 25 August 2024
When the flooring goes down it feels super positive.
That’s a bonny finish to the ramp for the workspace entrance, and scratch-coat cement waiting for it’s final finish. You will see the bonny original design railing peeping over the top.
All edges prepared for painting underneath the pillared area.
High quality original type flooring ready to go down and then skirtings on.
All floor tiling down in toilets, toilet corridor, kitchen and workspace waiting to be grouted.
A lovely finish around the rear fire exit, and cctv pole now in place to cover rear back and side.
Council grass cutters back on the go to help improve access.
We are very excited at the prospect of the green marble going on to the workshop, and the ceramic tiles to the roof terrace.
Thursday 15 August 2024
Would you like to be part of Tarlair’s future? Find us at the Vinery’s Celebration on Saturday the 17th August next to Macduff and Banff in Bloom, to have a blether about how you might want to use the place and it’s space.
We expect the Pavilion, workspace and roof terrace to be complete this October ’24, so we would love to hear from you.
Monday 29 July 2024
Tour Tarlair Today, starting in the workshop:
The workshop has had it’s independent locking doors fitted so that a variety of groups can keep their items secure.
The lovely round workshop window has been installed, and the marble cladding goes on in September.
Heritage tiles in all toilets complete and grouted.
Disabled ramp to the workshop ready to have the cement poured.
View from the cafe extension/meeting room/workshop extension. A Jack and Jill space. The men are wetting the cork insulation in prep. for traditional lime plaster.
The absolutely gorgeous entry doors. The one in the photograph will have a quirky ability to serve from the kitchen to passers by from this area, or anyone not wanting to come in who wants to eat/drink on the roof terrace.
The roof terrace with it’s new (original ) fencing surrounds.
The bit of carpark still to be levelled.
Last, but not least, tomorrows challenge of cutting down the ragwort to allow Willox the contractor’s wife to do the enormous favour of getting this grass cut. Talk about all hands on deck?
The weather has been kind, and we are looking for an extension to the lovely weather window to allow the roof terrace to be completed.
Such a lovely job.
Saturday 20 July 2024
Thanks again to our helpers from the Vinery, Macduffer and Scott, we did lots more constructive work to our coastal hedgerow which has been planted to enhance the entrance to Tarlair and through time, encourage more wildlife.
We were awarded the funding from the Just Transition Fund, thanks to your votes.
Evening moisture and daytime sunshine to lend a hand to growth and we’re sorted.
Co-op Community Fund
Update:
You voted for us, and these are a range of materials made available so far, thanks to yourselves and funding from the Co-op Community Fund.
The new workshop and community space at Tarlair will be used to enhance wellbeing by offering an arts and crafts facility for everyone.
A free working space will be offered for casual gatherings to join in activities. To provide a realistic offer of working materials a variety of materials have been delivered.
Further specialist materials will be sought to meet the skills of local volunteers.
Although some groups may want to establish a paying concern, our mission is to provide a space and a range of materials free of charge for 2 hour sessions twice a week.
If you would like to register an interest contact: patwain51@hotmail.co.uk or any other member of the Friends of Tarlair Group.
We are fortunate to have been selected as one of the chosen local charities to benefit from the Co-op Community Fund. For more information and to sign up please click on the image above. When you have chosen us, you just need to make sure to use your swipe card in the Co-op, 2p from every pound you spend will then automatically go to Tarlair. So, please get swiping your Co-op card and thank you once again for your continued support.
Notice of AGM
Friends of Tarlair Community Group SC045727
AGM will be on Monday 30th October 2023 at 7pm in MPC Hall, Market Street, Macduff.
This will be a good opportunity to see Tarlair progress on our photo story board . Tarlair Mugs, Water Bottles and Quiz will be on sale.
All Welcome. Thank you for your support.
Monday 2nd October 2023
Lets introduce…
Our water bottles and mugs, available at a cost of £10.00 each. Orders can be placed by emailing patwain51@hotmail.co.uk and payment details can be found on our facebook page.
Your interest has been astounding, and we look forward to you receiving your items. Thanks again
Saturday 22nd July 2023
Whenever were photographs more exciting? The digger is in the kitchen, and the tarpaulin is the cafe seating area with workshop beyond. The light and the views from the unbricked up windows is astounding and if you are all round outdoor sort of folk then the roof terrace will provide you with space for you and your dog with cafe furniture for your comfort.
The toilets are behind the digger with an outdoor accessible toilet also in the plans. Everything that can be kept from the original 1930’s design will be with windows and doors replaced with those of the same design type as the original.
All is ticking on nicely with V.G. Willox (Crimmond contractors), Studio Octopi architects and team, plus our own Project Coordinator working together to pave the way forward.
Sunday 4th June 2023
Prior to work commencing at Tarlair a few of the team met up and enjoyed the finest of the Moray coast’s weather.
We are pleased to have employed a skilled team comprising of:
- Architects – Studio Octopi
- Heritage Consultant – Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture
- Cost Consultant – WI Talbot
- Structural Engineer – Narros
- Services Engineer – KJ Tait
- CDM – Principal CDM & Safety
- Contractor – VG Willox
Monday 5th June 2023
Today’s work out.
Here’s hoping that clearing the terrace nearest the water of the seaweed thrown up during Winter will keep the visitor experience as a pleasant one while work continues on site.
It took a few visits from our friendly water pumper ooter to get the level of the water low enough to clear and clean, and we had assistance from two girls from a local primary school choosing to help cart the rubbish away on their Monday holiday. That’s community spirit for you.
April 11th 2023
Friends of Tarlair celebrate the next milestone as it appoints VG Willox to develop lido pavilion block
Friends of Tarlair are celebrating the next step of their incredible 11-year journey to save the Tarlair art deco lido near Macduff.
The contract to renovate the pavilion block and old tearoom has been awarded to Crimond-based builders VG Willox Ltd, with a start date scheduled for June.
Since being awarded funding through the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Place Based Investment Programme and Aberdeenshire Council’s Macduff Vision and Action Plan, the project has really picked up the pace.
The funding package of around £1.8million has included additional match funding support from Garfield Weston, Pilgrim Trust and many others which you will find listed on our website and has powered the project forward to the next critical stage.
Conservation plans have been drafted by architects Studio Octopi and their team of professionals who have been tasked with working within heritage architecture guidelines to help reinstate the original design as demanded by the structures A-listed status.
Studio Octopi’s passion for reinstating Britain’s lidos made them a great choice of architect to take the Tarlair project forward.
There has been an enormous amount of community engagement to reach where we are now, with a variety of age groups involved in various activities and fundraising events organised by both individuals, groups of enthusiasts and more general participation in events such as our annual galas.
The support from Aberdeenshire Council has been extraordinary in the last few years and they have helped the Friends of Tarlair weather many a storm, getting us to where we are now.
Wicek Sosna has been employed as our Project Coordinator since November last year and will be working with the project until its completion.
This full and sympathetic renovation of the original Tarlair Pavilion will serve as a catalyst for new local economic activity and increased community pride and will showcase the great natural landscape of our north coast.
The café and community space will accommodate a host of activities including musical evenings, heritage talks, small celebrations and even film nights, while the fit-for-purpose workshop will offer opportunities to work in creative activities.
Pat Wain, chair of the Friends, said: “This community-led regeneration project will encourage tourism, provide new opportunities for enterprise, increase skills and educational development. We are confident these facilities will become a thriving centre for the community and visitors alike and will enhance the coastal path network in Macduff, reinstating a feeling of pride in a much-loved cultural and leisure space.
The pavilion café, workshop and heritage display facilities will provide many volunteering opportunities within the local community and we are looking forward to working with everyone in the years to come.
The Friends of Tarlair committee is delighted to be the bearer of such great news and looks forward to welcoming lots of people to our renovated facilities in due course.”
