Scots hospitality firm expects 'busier than ever' summer
The firm has used £20,000 of funding from the British Business Bank's Start Up loans programme to expand its headquarters in Sanquhar.
Mr Gallacher, who set up Knockenhair in 2023, followed in the footsteps of his grandmother Nancy, who ran a similar business in the catering sector for 30 years before retiring in 2015. He studied professional cooking and hospitality management at Dumfries and Galloway College and started his own cake-making venture before deciding to take the family back to its hospitality roots. His grandmother, now 79, remains on hand as a source of advice and to test the firm's renowned strawberry tarts, of which more than 6,000 were made last year.
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Mr Gallacher said: 'While I was much too young to help out, I have fond memories of spending my weekends and school holidays pottering about in my gran's commercial kitchen and getting a taste of how the business worked – as well as trialling the recipes. Going to college to study hospitality was the obvious choice for me after finishing school and, following stints working in a couple of local bars and pubs, I felt that the time was right to give the catering business a go.
'The prep kitchen that my gran had used was still in decent condition, but now that I'm a couple of years into running the business, it feels like a good time to upgrade some of the equipment and increase the size of the space. It is still very much a family venture, and it is great to be able to get my gran's advice and also pick up again with some of the regular customers that she catered for years before.
'This summer we expect to be busier than ever with weddings and corporate events, covering everywhere from Glasgow to Carlisle.'
Knockenhair Hospitality now has a team of 20 people and, further to the kitchen refurbishment, has plans to increase its footprint further in the coming years. Mr Gallacher was named young entrepreneur at the Dumfries and Galloway Life Awards in November.
The Start Up Loans programme has now provided more than £75 million of funding to businesses in Scotland, with 8,000 loans provided to entrepreneurs.
Barry McCulloch, senior manager, UK network, Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: 'Hospitality has been one of the core sectors that we have supported through the Start Up Loans programme in Scotland, so it is fitting to see the £75m milestone celebrated with Knockenhair Hospitality. The success to date highlights the effectiveness of the programme in addressing regional imbalances and access to finance among smaller businesses, which are of huge importance to the Scottish economy – particularly in rural communities.'
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