Comments on: Nairn: A New Local Plan

By: Donald Wilson

Donald Wilson — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:09:57 +0000

Just found this query dating back to April 2009 which doesn’t seem to have been answered.
From M. Robertson: Sorry this is not in reply to your posting – I am hoping if someone from Nairn can tell me what the difference is between an Arbroath Smokie and Nairn Spelding?

Answer – of sorts!Before I started as a cub reporter in the Nairnshire Telegraph I always had a summer job – once at the High Fishselling Co in Leopold Street – now Highland Hospice which housed the fish slab, and the neighbouring deli which was the shop front. We sold all sorts of game including rabbits, hares,pheasants and salmon from the river when there was no such thing as farmed salmon.But to answer the question, the smokie and spelding were quite different delicacies. I cannot tell you definitively how each was prepared but the Nairn Spelding of course was produced by fishwifes of Nairn in the smokehouses at their homes in the Fishertown. They were haddock which were gutted and opened up on the bone and cured in the smokehouses beside the homes of the fishermen. They still had to be cooked and like a smoked fillet of haddock were beautiful done in milk. I am sure there are many would say leaving the bone in gave it extra flavour.
The Arbroath Smokie on the other hand was a haddock effectively already cooked and they could be eaten cold. They were tied in pairs by a piece of string and although gutted they were not opened up but were completely cooked and simply needed heating up for table. The Smokie was very crumbly and if one broke up in the display window Arthur Grant, my boss, would allow me to put it into the back shop where we would nibble away at it. Don’t know if that helps. I confess I never saw either of these delicacies being produced and I am sure older fisher folk will testify I am obviously no expert. But I still see them today in my own mind’s eye. I hope this helps.
Donald Wilson.

By: Miss Terry

Miss Terry — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:03 +0000

The teens should have an arcade wth bowling ally and should hang there drinking sodas playing games eating burgers not be neglected to improvise there own fun, which usually comes with a ottle of vodka and a teen pregnancy. Think that would please familes, teens and tourists and couples, get some teams going. I could run this town easy just got to be more modern and family friendly.

By: Miss Terry

Miss Terry — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:42:32 +0000

oh and one more thing I do think the belly dancing is funny. New things are always critised especially if this is the person in charge its a power trip of jealousy, if she was lap dancing then slander away but no its a art that type of dancing and very brave… I agree go liz.

By: Miss Terry

Miss Terry — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:20:55 +0000

I think you have to rethink which type of tourist do you want in Nairn. For the locals, perhaps Blackpool is far from the ideal prospect. Noise, violence, drugs and sleaze. I do believe it needs upgrading however it should be done with class and style and a bit of glamour. There is far too many of the same type of sea side towns in the UK. Boring.com! Yes do the pavements and yes have allocated parking for familes/ locals/ tourists, but don’t bring it to the attention of night clubs and strip clubs. That will not bring the attention to the craft trade which you are wishing to be an influence. Sorry to be harsh yes crafts are nice souviengers but they scream old age and will not bring a tourist. There are other paths to explore, a shopping center with good shops in it that you find on most high streets. Perhaps a very stylish cocktail bar on the beach front with a wacky wearhouse type pub next door which is more family friendly. Something for us women we are money spenders! Maybe one sports bar for the guys and a karaoke bar that closes at a normal cinderella hour. Yes go that route, not skeg ness and blackpool it screams chav, which screams everything that comes with a chav and none of that will do Nairn any good in the long run. Something for the kids would be nice, a park on the sea front too. Set up some shacks, on the beach sell the local crafts there and hotdogs. Have fireworks from the sea front on certain set dates. Get community Halloween parties in a park.And put caring into the community, beauty is not just exterior, it has to have beauty in it too, nice people and a community of caring sorts. Put it on the map. The only way your going to get it there, is get some better shops, and some stylish restuarants. Make it the new “it” place, gettaway with fantastic Highland veiws and great shopping, spas, bars etc….darling, get it in some mags that people actually read like Glamour or Cosmo if you want it classy, or get a big wheel and some strip bars and watch the place get known for all the wrong things like most other seaside towns. Its a blank canvas that is really old fashioned it needs bringing into date in style and not bringing into date for inevitable destruction which a blackpool type town is. Whowants to raise a kid there? End up on drugs, or in some violent street fight. Show everyone else this is how a city should be. Nairn the dream place, with low crime and a strong healthy community trustworthy stylish and glamourous. could dream eh?…

By: anon

anon — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:12:31 +0000

Yes make nairn like blackpool.
trams…illuminations….casinos….shops selling plastic tits…donkey shit all over the beach.
This will then bring more tourist in…so “local” (and by “local” we include those with off-shore accounts and off-planet morality) businessmen can make their profits, whilst “bringing new employment into the area” with a few token seasonal jobs (later to be filled by eu agency workers).

-councils with developers want to develop.
-councillors with developers want to develop with the cast iron backing/investment of the taxpayers cash.
-the age old justification is “its fur the tourists, so its nothing to do with youz, keep your noses out”
…to which the populace oblige.

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:25:41 +0000

No problem, and glad it seems to have worked out in the end.

If you’d like any recommendations, local or regional, I’m sure we’ll only be too happy to help.

By: the dude

the dude — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:21:20 +0000

Cheers Brian for being so understanding it was your web sits and the Gurn that helped me win the battle to come back after so long.
The big suprise is that the MRS has just told me that she actualy liked the place and thinks it would be a nice place for a romantic escape without the boys so Ill be back no boys just me and my sweet heart
Now that is how I remember Nairn

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:05:44 +0000

The Dude, no problem about the rant – heck, a lot of us online are doing a lot of ranting about issues regarding Nairn that need addressing, and I know the community councils offline are seriously trying to have a bigger impact as well.

What really strikes me about Nairn, though, is how many people are becoming increasingly pro-active and really trying to address outstanding issues.

Yes, Nairn has flaws, and it would be silly to expect no one to point these out – on the contrary, we’re trying to raise as much noise as possible to ensure Nairn has a future as a pleasant seaside town, good for residents and tourists alike, and that any development plans do not jeopardise this.

I also think you were unfortunate in visiting during a time that has seen the British summer at its worst for some years (33% higher average rainfall), which resulted in some flooding in the town not long before your visit (resulting the sewers issue).

I’m not sure if it may be of any help, but if you would like to reconsider coming back, it may be worth contacting Ian at VisitNairn.com and see if there is a special way to especially accommodate you next time around.

I’m afraid my business is not currently connected with the hospitality trade, but if it were, I would certainly consider offering to help in bringing your family back to Nairn under better conditions, as a way to help promote both town and business, and ensure that we can try to ensure our visitors are made as happy as possible.

In the meantime, there is an application to open a nightclub in Nairn, and I’ll be running something from Inverness very soon as well. Nairn’s aspirations are growing.

By: the dude

the dude — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:42:50 +0000

Sorry people I did not mean to slate your town.
I love Nairn, I have always loved Nairn since I was a kid.
I was just a little frustrated after such a bad holiday that I took to Ranting.
I suppose I was a little melancholy after following the goings on, on the various blog sites, caravan 9, The Gurn Fa Nurn, and my Nairn that all the good times I had as a teenager came flooding back.
I thought the boys would love it the way I used to, but alas they did not.
As for the wife well I wont even go there.
I suppose Brian is right I am living in the past, “yes” there is derelict shops and buildings, but I suppose there were derelict buildings there when I was a kid.
The thing is when I was younger I was to busy chasing the girls.
As for Jake!
Sorry guy it was nice for you to back up what I said but please do not involve me in the finger pointing.
In this day an age a councillors job is a thankless task they get paid peanuts get overlooked when they do something good and S..t on from a great height when they fail in the endeavour they have taken onboard for the good of the people.
Since reading Jakes post I have googled your local council girl Liz and found she is the lord province and she loves belly dancing.
Well all I can say is go girl and you lot should think your selves lucky to have a real person on your side.
So sorry Jake you are way out there if you have a councillor who will get up in front of the whole community and shake her stuff you have a councillor who will do anything and you should thank your lucky stars.
“GO LIZ”
Our councillor would be to afraid of offending someone or some bad press, so in my opinion you have the right rperson to take Nairn back to where it use to be for me a place of fun.

The Dude

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:39:15 +0000

The dude, just addressing your points :

I’m genuinely sorry you didn’t have a great time in Nairn.

However, looking down your list of complaints, they seem primarily focused on the town not being how you remembered when you were younger.

Yes, there are outstanding issues that are currently being fought – not least the derelict buildings along the A96, plus the recent sewage leak.

Issues such as any hotel or snooker room being developed are just part of change, the Highland Games is whatever you make of it, and fairs are always pricey.

Of course, Skegness is an excellent place for family holidays – been there with my kids a few times myself – but the place has always been developed as a seaside resort.

Nairn hasn’t, and this is reflected in the current circumstances. Even still, this is being slowly but surely turned around, but it takes time.

Nairn, also being a very small Highland town, will not be able to cater to every taste, but there are many places around worth visiting if you’re able to drive around to sample wider afield.

In the meantime, again, I’m genuinely sorry you did not enjoy your holiday here, but I’m sure if you were to visit again – especially during a sunny break – and additionally accept that like anywhere else in the UK, the town will change over time, you may find the place a lot more pleasant.

Here’s for the future.