Millport's Tavern supplies food for 200 stranded passengers

The Tavern on Millport's Glasgow Street was taken over by Tracey Hunter and Ian McBride in 2019.

On Sunday, Tracey and 18-year-old colleague Olachan Bowie received the emergency call from CalMac to ask if they could help provide hot food or passengers after the island's ferry service was suspended. 

A fire had broken out in the engine room, putting the route's usual vessel, MV Loch Shira, out of action.

A replacement, MV Loch Riddon, was brought to the Clyde from the Tarbert-Portavadie route to plug the gap, but the smaller ship didn't arrive until 7.15pm, by which time a long backlog of vehicles had built up.

Tracey explained: "I got phone call 6pm from CalMac asking if I could possibly make some hot food for all the stranded passengers. 

"I asked how many people are you talking about and they said it was for 200 people!

"I said, 'yeah we can do that', and my colleague and I prepared a huge pot of soup and curried stovies, and macaroni and chips for any vegetarians.

"Olachan had only recently started working with us and at the age of 18 I am sure it is an experience he will never forget - nor I!

"It took over two hours to get it all prepared and two of our customers, Willie and Gary, had a truck and they managed to help us transport all the goods to the ferry queue.

"We also fed the MV Loch Riddon staff too as after all they had come all the way from Tarbert to provide the replacement ferry on our route."

The smaller capacity Loch Riddon arrived at around 7.15pm, but due to the backlog of vehicles, it never stopped running back and forth to Largs till 11pm.

Tracey added: "It it quite something to be asked to provide hot food for 200 people at the drop of a hat - but we managed it without any problem - and it was great to be able to play a helping hand in the big day."

Another local businesswoman Marina Dobbin, who is friends with Tracey, was profusive in her praise for her pal's efforts and the overall community response following the disruption to the ferry service as people and businesses rallied to help.

Marina said: "This was absolutely outstanding and goes above and beyond.

"For Tracey to have catered for 200 people like that was just amazing, and it was fantastic to see the whole island pulling together like this.

"Tracey kindly went round with soup and hot meals and helped deliver them in their cars to keep people going.

"The immense effort of this island community is an example to us all on how to deal positively when challenging situations arise."

As reported earlier this week, The Garrison was authorised to remain open by Cumbrae Community Development Company and the cafe staff provided tea, coffee and soup to help those stuck on the island.

Meanwhile, kind-hearted islanders managed to arrange RIB trips to take stranded visitors back to the mainland.

Councillor Todd Ferguson said: "From the guys shuttling people off in their RIB from the watersports centre to the businesses who opened up up to provide warm spaces, food, and coffee and those who were providing food and water.

"You prove time and time again how to rally together.

"Absolutely outstanding to see. Congratulations to everyone involved."