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World famous Highland restaurant put up for sale

Brian Lipton, of the Castle Restaurant, with his famous steak pie and chips
Brian Lipton, of the Castle Restaurant, with his famous steak pie and chips

Its world famous steak pie and crinkle cut chips have made it a Highland institution.

But now the future of the Castle Restaurant in Inverness is in the melting pot after its family owners put it on the market.

The Castle Street premises, known affectionately as the Castle Snacks, could now be yours for offers around £425,000.

And the owner Brian Lipton has hinted that the recipe for that renowned pie – and the machine for cutting the special chips – could be thrown in as well for a negotiated offer.

It is the end of an era for the restaurant, which has served up the same fare for more than 40 years.

Mr Lipton, 65, said he had decided it was time to retire and he plans to spend more time with wife Christine, their daughters Fiona and Shirley and five grandchildren.

The restaurant was started by his grandmother Patricia Boni and uncle Joe in 1959.

Later Mr Lipton’s parents Roma and Clem took over, with another uncle Samuel and his wife Emma also joining the venture.

Roma Lipton became one of the restaurant’s best known faces, particularly for her steak pie – freshly made on the premises every day.

Mr Lipton, who started in the business 26 year ago, said that praise for the restaurant after news of the impending sale became public was “very humbling”.

The Castle Snacks regularly has queues of people waiting for a table at lunchtime and early evening.

He said: “People would come for the atmosphere. It is a meeting place for people from the west coast and the north.

“I am the third generation here and our customers are the same.

“But I am 65. It is time to go. I hope whoever take it on will maintain it because what we do is unique. No one else in the city is doing this.”

And he paid tribute to his staff.

Mr Lipton said: “We have been extremely lucky with the people we have chosen to work with us over the years.”

The restaurant, that can cater for 72, is housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings, built in 1744.