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Inverness' Velocity bike café closes down

BBC The exterior of the business has a blue frontage. A sign above a window includes the words: "For the love of bikes". There are industrial wheelie bins on a corner of the street next to the building.BBC
Velocity opened in the Crown area of Inverness in 2012

A popular café and bicycle workshop in Inverness has closed after 12 years.

Velocity, a social enterprise, ran a number of projects including cycle training for adults and bike rides to help improve people's health and wellbeing.

A legal process has started to liquidate the business and potentially sell off its assets.

The business in the Crown area of the city was launched in 2012.

Solicitors Stronachs LLP has begun the process of winding up Velocity at Inverness Sheriff Court.

Social enterprises are businesses run for a social or environmental purpose.

Velocity's café offered vegetarian and vegan options and won Scotland's Cyclist Café of the Year in 2018 and 2020.

People were able to book its workshop at low cost to carry out repairs on their bikes, with the option of having a mechanic oversee the work.

In 2012, it ran a scheme providing group bike rides to and from Belladrum Tartan Heart Music festival near Inverness.

Messages on the posters include celebrations of work done by Velocity with adults and families. One of the posters has the words: "For the love of coffee". Stencilled on the window are wavy lines, a bird and yellow daffodils.
Hand-written posters in a window of the business celebrating the business' work with adults and families

The Highland Cycle Campaign said it was deeply saddened by the closing of Velocity.

A spokesperson said: "Velocity has done much to achieve its aim of Inverness becoming a cycling city.

"The café has acted as a haven for local cyclists and an attraction for bike tourers. The projects have supported many people to become independent cyclists."

They added: "The sense of community Velocity created for the cyclists of Inverness and beyond will be deeply missed.

"We send our love to all the staff and everyone affected by the closing."