When you first set foot on the Isle of Colonsay one of the first things you encounter, at the end of the pier in Scalasaig, is this wee tearoom/restaurant .. the Pantry. Like a lot of the architecture on the islands it has a fairly utilitarian, no nonsense look about it .. four walls, a door, a couple of windows. There tends to be little in the way of imagination when it comes to architecture in the Hebrides. However, the islands are no-frills kind of places so perhaps it is understandable.  

The interior is pretty much as you would expect but is a hive of industry. It sells teas, coffees, sweets, beer, wine, spirits and all sorts of souvenirs and other stuff. They also make their own bread and cakes. Also on sale is  the beer from the local brewery as well as the unique black bee honey from nearby apiaries. And they have quiz nights every week … phew!

If you are ever going to be marooned on an island make it a self-sufficient one like Colonsay. Evening meals specialise in seafood, most of which has to come the whole 100 metres from the harbour. We had a cheese and a plain scone, both of which were very good though Pat thought that the cheese on top of her scone was a bit too tough. Never mind, 10 out of 10 for sheer industry, diversity and endeavour.

Weapons of mass destruction

We also tried their local Colonsay Crunch. Apart from being very good it raises the question, is the crunch coming for weapons of mass destruction in the UK? Well certainly not according to the government who have pre-empted the parliamentary vote on Trident

renewal by announcing a massive investment in Faslane. How arrogant can they get? Presumably the poodles are coming under pressure from the US who actually own all ‘our’ missiles. We just own the submarines. The US must want to streamline their destructive capability. Apparently they never go out with the missiles ‘targeted’ because they cannot think of anyone or any place to target.  Nevertheless, it is good to know they are there 24/7 protecting our food banks? On Colonsay they must have these weapons of mass destruction slipping past their shores all the time. A sinister thought that jars horribly with all this beauty and tranquility!

PA61 7YW        tel: 01951 200325        The Pantry