Possible meets...... Katie Long of Brown & Blacks

This week’s guest is perhaps one of the most driven and motivated businesswomen in the local area and if you’ve had the pleasure of meeting her she’s whilst working away, you’ll always get the sense that you are actually chatting away to a good friend. Over the last year or so she has not only had to contend with the unfolding and challenging COVID-19 landscape, but also a complete change of scenery and a brand new premises. Her industry has been one of the hardest hit in terms of having to close for prolonged periods of time, but she has used that time very very wisely and as you’ll see, the light at the end of this particular tunnel is looking incredibly bright.  

 This week, Possible meets…. Katie Long of Brown & Blacks.

Can you tell us a bit about your business?

We are a bar and restaurant open 7 days a week and feel that we cover all areas – whether it be morning coffees and scones or dinner and cocktails or just pints and football in the bar. July will mark our 7^th year of trading. We were in the town for just over 6 years before I made the big decision to move to Scone as I saw the potential it offered. We are currently in the process of developing our outside space with an additional 60 covers. We will have 5 outdoor booths with heaters and lights, picnic tables, childrens play area and a completely tarred carpark. Having this outdoor space will be great with the current covid restrictions as we feel outdoor dining is more popular just now until restrictions are eased. We have continued to provide a takeaway service which has been very popular and well received. 

How has the last year been for you professionally and personally throughout the COVID-19 situation?

Professionally it has been an eye opener and very difficult as there are still a lot of outgoings each month so financially things have been hard. We got the keys last August and took 9 weeks to do a full renovation whilst still trading at the Perth location. It was a big decision that I made to move the business and my staff at such a time but it is without a doubt the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. When we first opened in Scone we were extremely busy and it’s clear to see that we had tapped into a niche market.

My plan is to be here for the next 20 years before I retire. The staff have all adapted well and we are very grateful that we didn’t have to lose anyone and are actually recruiting more for re-opening. Personally I loved the opportunity to spend more time with my kids and when I had my second child I only 5 weeks off with him so I feel like I got some time back with Fraser which is priceless.

Tell us about the first time you ever moved out of your family home and rented/bought your first property?

I was 19 years old when I first moved out. I was assistant manager at the foundry bar in Perth and lived in 1 of the 4 bedsits above the pub. My rent back then was £30 a week but I was still skint because I had a very active social life and went out Wednesday night to Sunday night. I would put my oven on just before my shift finished to heat the place up – it was very glamorous.  

Which parts of Perthshire have you lived in and are there any that you liked the most?

Lived in the town at Atholl Place, Princes Street and Charterhouse Lane. It was very handy living in town as I was close to all of the local amenities but I grew up in Scone and it was always my plan to raise my children here as nowhere feels more like home to me than Scone. It’s a nice feeling knowing that my kids will go to the same school I went to.

What’s your favourite room in your home and why?

It’s a tough decision but I’d have to go with the Living Room. There’s nothing better than sitting down at the end of a long work day with the kids playing and me enjoying a nice Malbec whilst watching the telly.

In your opinion, what is it that makes a house a home?

Noise, a little bit mess and one of mum’s home cooked meals.

Why do you think Perthshire is such a popular location for buyers from all over parts of Scotland and the UK?

Because there are so many idyllic spots and it’s the central belt of Scotland without all of the traffic that comes with Glasgow and Edinburgh. It’s also very well connected to all the major cities if you feel like a day out.

If you could have your dream home, anywhere in the world, where would it be and tell us a bit about what it might have in it and look like?

Not that I watch it a lot but there are lots of lovely houses in the Kardashians in Calabasas amongst the rolling hills with infinity pools and luxurious gardens.

Find out more about Katie, her team and Brown & Blacks by visiting: 

www.facebook.com/BrownBlacks

www.brownandblacks.com 

Bringing over 20 years local estate agency experience, Possible are Perthshire's only company who are solely dedicated to selling properties. We cover the entire Perthshire area and over the years have helped hundreds of clients in locations such as Perth, Scone, Bridge of Earn, Auchterarder, Crieff, Blairgowrie, Luncarty, Bankfoot, Pitlochry and everywhere else in between.