Joy as new Fair Isle Bird Observatory to open to public from late May
THE NEW Fair Isle Bird Observatory is set to open to the public from late May.
Six years after a fire destroyed the former observatory on the island, the trust behind the new building said they were “delighted to announce” that the hotel would soon be open to guests.
‘Friends of Fair Isle’ – those who support their work by paying a yearly subscription fee – are set to be contacted later this month to book a space.
They will be able to book accommodation at the observatory from Monday 12 May all the way through to the end of the season in late October.
Anyone who has supported the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust at any time since the fire in 2019 will be able to book one room for a minimum of three nights.
Bookings will then open up to the general public on 12 May who will then be able to stay, for a minimum of three nights, from Monday 26 May.
The trust said they would “shortly be posting all the relevant information and pricing on our website.”
“We look forward to welcoming you to Fair Isle and our unique bird observatory hotel,” it added.
The former bird observatory was completely destroyed in a fire in March 2019, with fundraising soon starting to help rebuild it.
An application was lodged this month for an alcohol licence for the new observatory, which will allow it to sell alcohol on and off-site daily.
Fair Isle Bird Observatory said in its application that it would be closed for guests and visitors between November and February every year.
It said there would be no set hours when alcohol would be sold at these times, by there could be “ad-hoc events”, meetings or community functions when it was re-opened.
Live music performances could also be held at the observatory, it said, with outdoor drinking facilities also set to be provided.
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