A serene spot in Orkney and its resident café were chosen to launch a major VisitScotland national campaign, which sees tourism businesses across the country joining forces with cafés to help give visitors a sweeter taste of Scotland.
On the strength of a public vote which saw more than 3,500 people sending in descriptions of their favourite holiday café experiences, the Birsay Bay Tearoom was selected - from over 200 cafes across the country - as the prime location for the launch.
The new Scottish Café Days website www.visitscotland.com/cafedays shows visitors where they can get a great cuppa and cake while on holiday as well as promoting the attractions and activities they can experience in the surrounding area. Appie’s Tearoom in Sandwick and Julia’s Café Bistro in Stromness also feature in the Orkney section of the campaign.
Designed by VisitScotland to encourage cafés and other tourism businesses to work closely to promote each others’ services to visitors through recommendations and information on the website, the campaign was launched by GMTV's Glasgow born weathergirl Andrea McLean at the Birsay Bay Tearoom. She said:
"When I visit Scotland I always like to get personal recommendations from local people about what to do and see and that's what’s great about VisitScotland's new Cafe Days campaign. Here in Birsay, you can wander across the causeway – at low tide! - to the Brough and explore the remains of a Norse settlement. Back on the mainland the impressive ruins of the Earl’s Palace in Birsay will draw you in, before you head up the road to the Birsay Bay Tearoom to enjoy a cuppa and a bite to eat, and mull over the day’s highlights.
All the cafes on the new VisitScotland site were nominated by people who were asked to share the experiences they’ve had visiting the individual cafés and the things to do and see on their doorsteps.
Owner Manager of Birsay Bay Tearoom, Bob Nelson, said: “We’re very pleased that our Tearoom and the Brough of Birsay were chosen as the site to launch this national campaign – especially since the message of cross-selling and promoting nearby businesses is one of our core objectives. Our menus give details on what there is to see and do in the area, and we’re always delighted to give advice and recommendations to visitors coming to the area for the first time. We look forward to welcoming many more through the success of Café Days!”
