MCTC - Developing Social Spaces

Morvern Community Trading Company (MCTC) is one of the subsidiary trading companies of MCDC and is responsible for managing Lochaline Harbour (including gym, sauna and e-bikes), the Hub (including Hub Café) and the fuel pumps. The MCTC board provided the following update:

Tourism, Social spaces and recreation

During 2025/26 we have developed the harbour area with the view of enticing yachts to stay longer as well as providing our community with additional recreational opportunities. We obtained a licence to sell alcohol in August 2025 and purchased a nomadic tent. The harbour bar, open 4-7pm last year offered a welcoming place to meet for visitors and locals alike, with the tent providing cover for inclement weather and a new barbecue available for use. A limited and manageable range of soft drinks, cocktails and local ales was enjoyed by local yachts during the season, as well as by Morvern residents of all ages. The bar has been open again with slightly extended hours from April 2026.

Our new sauna was installed in April 2025 and has proved to be highly popular with locals and visitors, with yachts booking the pontoons to use the sauna. A thriving winter sauna club for locals (October – March) has been highly successful over this period when the pontoons have been closed.

Following consultation with young people, older people and regular gym users we opened our community gym at the harbour which has membership options and is open to visitors. At the time of writing 19 people have been inducted. The gym was a specific ask in the Live Life Morvern plan and has provided another space for young people to meet as well as benefitting older residents. The range of equipment available was informed by a steering group of all ages and abilities.

Enhancing use of the Hub for recreational activities and a place to meet and socialise

The Hub Cafe is overseen by the MCTC board and employs a cafe manager/chef. In line with Live Life Morvern, in particular improving our local recreation options, we have been keen to maximise the use of the hub for local people as a venue for socialising. During winter, in additional to daytime opening (Wednesday, Thursday & Friday) we have offered a reasonably priced home cooked meal one evening per week which has proved popular. There were nearly 6000 transactions at the till during 2025. Music nights, board game nights have also taken place with more planned. The hub provides part time employment for 7 local people and 2 volunteers who enjoy being part of the team.

We would like to thank the Attic who have subsidised some community learning opportunities in the form of a series of 3 willow weaving workshops ‘weaving through winter’ and 2 film making workshops which have been enjoyed by all age groups of local people. The feedback has been highly positive with an ask for more. The Attic have also subsidised our gym inductions.

Providing opportunity for social enterprise

There are many talented artists and makers locally and we have used the hub to showcase and sell crafts without commission to help these micro businesses. We currently have over 20 different makers using the hub as an outlet.