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Dingwall’s Batty’s Baps forced to close following ‘devastating’ fire





Kayla Pearson, Vicki Hardie, Pamalla Mackenzie, Julie Waymouth and Emily Waymouth. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Kayla Pearson, Vicki Hardie, Pamalla Mackenzie, Julie Waymouth and Emily Waymouth. Picture: Callum Mackay.

A POPULAR Dingwall business has been forced to close its doors after a fire in the area left the safety of the premises in doubt.

Staff are losing out on pay while Batty’s Baps, on the town’s High Street, is closed following the blaze in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The fire broke out in an alleyway close to the shop, the affected thoroughfare deemed “structurally unsafe” in the aftermath.

A part of Dingwall’s culinary community for more than 11 years now, Batty’s Baps only moved to their High Street premises 14 months ago.

The damage to Batty's Baps. Picture: Pamella Mackenzie
The damage to Batty's Baps. Picture: Pamella Mackenzie

Owner Pamella Mackenzie said: “Until we get a structural engineer in, we cannot open. We’re dealing with our insurance providers, but it will likely take a while.

“We’ve got loss of earnings, loss of wages, and my eight members of staff don’t have a job at the moment as a result.

“The hardest part is how it’s impacting my staff — they all have families, and most of them have kids they need to feed. It’s devastating.

“I was managing fine to start with, but I’m starting to feel the stress of it all now — and there’s nothing I can do about it all.”

As well as the damage to the alleyway, the inside of the cafe has also suffered smoke damage.

Pamella continued: “You can’t see the smoke, but you can hardly breathe in there — you can taste it.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.15am on Sunday, 25 May, 2025, officers received a report of a fire within an alleyway on High Street, Dingwall.

“Enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”


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