Staff left ‘shocked and bewildered’ as popular Tall Pines restaurant on NC500 near Dornoch closes its doors
A popular East Sutherland restaurant on the North Coast 500 tourist route has unexpectedly closed its doors with the loss of 12 jobs.
The sudden closure of the Tall Pines Restaurant, at Evelix on the northbound carriageway of the A9, just north of the Dornoch junction, is said to have left staff shell-shocked and customers disappointed.
A notice on the outside door of the restaurant, which is part of the Evelix filling station, said the premises were closed until further notice.
One man, who asked not to be named but has connections with the restaurant, said: “It just came out of the blue. The staff are totally shocked and bewildered.”
The operators of the Tall Pines Restaurant have said that a consultation on its future is under way and is at an early stage.
The long-established business was founded by Sutherland businessman Thomas Sutherland of the Sutherland Arms Garage in Brora.
But less than a year ago, it was acquired by Gleaner Service Stations, part of Gleaner Ltd, a family-owned fuel distribution business that has been in operation for over 70 years, supplying fuel to communities across Scotland.
Gleaner Service Stations said at the time: “It is with great pleasure that we announce that of Monday June 3, 2024, Gleaner Ltd has purchased and taken over the running of Evelix Service Station and Tall Pines Restaurant, Dornoch.
“...We are delighted that Evelix and Tall Pines have fully joined the Gleaner family.”
The Northern Times has been told that staff at the restaurant, one of whom has worked there for over 20 years, were told at the start of last week that it was closing, with the reason given that it was “not making money”.
They were sent home but told they would be paid that week and asked to return this week for “redundancy meetings” with Gleaner human resources officials.
They are also said to have been warned not to talk to discuss the closure with anyone.
A notice posted on the Gleaner Service Station’s Facebook page last Tuesday, April 2, reads: “Tall Pines, Dornoch will be closed until further notice. Sorry for any inconvenience”.
The claim that the business was not making money is being treated with scepticism, particularly as the company is said to have invested £20,000 earlier this year in purchasing new computerised tills, sofas, tables and menus.
An informant said: “I know for a fact that the place is a gold mine. It takes in thousands of pounds a day, and we are coming into the busy season when it can take in tens of thousands a day in turnover, both in combined fuel sales and meals.
“The place is always busy - all the passing lorry drivers go in there for hot food - and you cannot get parked there on a Sunday.
“It just doesn’t make sense; nobody can understand why it is being closed and why people are losing their jobs.”
“There is a suggestion that Gleaner Service Stations could be looking to extend the filling station, which is old and in need of renovation, into the restaurant, but if so, why not just tell the staff that?”
He added: “There is also a suggestion that Gleaner may be looking to re-employ people on zero-hours contracts.”
A spokesperson for Gleaner said: “We can confirm that a consultation on the future of the restaurant has commenced, and staff have been informed.
“The consultation is at an early stage and no decision has been reached. While the consultation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”
