Home   News   Article

Rogart pub reopening on cards in 2025 after family’s acquisition of PO Stores and Pittentrail Inn





A popular Sutherland pub could reopen in 2025 after coming under new ownership earlier this year.

The Rasathurai family bought Rogart PO Stores along with the Pittentrail Inn across the road in July. The family also runs the Spar store in Culbokie, where they live.

In its heyday the Pittentrail Inn, which has a public bar and restaurant, served as a social hub for the community - it was run by popular publican Hector Miller from 1997 until his death in 2019.

Since then it has had various owners and has only been open intermittently.

In its heyday the Pittentrail Inn was the social hub for the Rogart and district community.
In its heyday the Pittentrail Inn was the social hub for the Rogart and district community.

The head of the Rasathurai family, Sivakumaran Rasathurai, known as Rasan, said he had considered using the Pittentrail Inn, which has four bedrooms and two self-contained flats, as accommodation for himself and his family and also as an Airbnb.

But he added: “Local people need a bar, so that is the immediate plan at the moment.”

Originally from Sri Lanka, Rasan left for Germany in 1988 at the age of 19 due to the country’s civil war which did not end until 2009.

He then moved to Switzerland where he married his wife, Kowri, whom he met in Sri Lanka.

Rasan worked in a variety of jobs, including in the theatre, where he was involved with the musical Cats, hospitality, and in IT.

The couple stayed in Switzerland for nearly 20 years and had three daughters, Arthy, Abi, and Arabi and a son, Seyon.

They moved to England in 2006 for the children’s education and Rasan worked in hospitality again, but also spent seven years as a bus driver.

He said the move to Culbokie in 2021 was “quite spontaneous”.

“We missed a lot of things about Switzerland - it’s very clean and organised and quiet. We missed all this in London, so we decided to move to Culbokie,” he said.

The whole family is involved in the business, although as a university student, Seyon only works part-time during holidays.

They hope to refurbish the PO Stores and also introduce hot food to go.

Rasan said he had hoped to open the pub in time for the festive season but realistically felt it would be spring next year because of licensing and various other requirements.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More