Music fans making the journey to The Reeling festival – Glasgow's summer celebration of traditional music – will be able to enjoy a coffee from Highland coffee specialist Birch.
Niall Munro, son of famous Runrig frontman Donnie, set up the specialist coffee shop and eatery in his native Skye in 2020.
The Portree café, which draws inspiration from the world-leading coffee scene in Melbourne, recently opened a second Highland venue in Inverness.
Niall, founder of Birch coffee, is no stranger to music festivals as one of the co-directors of Skye Live Festival, alongside Michael Pellegrotti.
He said: “It’s a big hit. We get lots of Glasgow visitors to our café, often young folk travelling around Skye.
“We cater at three music festivals, The Reeling, Belladrum, and Skye Live, and I love being a part of them.
"It’s just high energy and such a good buzz. Ultimately, the music and incredible talent is what’s creating that, but I do hope we’re adding something by providing good quality coffee.
“Reputationally, with festivals people go and expect to be ripped off for food, and often people are happy to settle for less and pay more. I’m proud to be a part of a festival that isn’t like that, and we’re providing great food and drink for attendees.
“I’ve always been involved in music and really grown to appreciate the joy of traditional music. Growing up, my dad was in Runrig, and I DJd and promoted nights, something which I always kept up.
"I started Skye Live in 2015, and in school music was always at the forefront of my mind career wise. Food and drink came a bit later for me, when I was working with my brother in his restaurant in Portree, and after spending some time living out in Melbourne – I stumbled on the coffee scene and found the inspiration for Birch.
“Who knows what will happen down the line – things can change and happen quickly, and opportunities come up. We don’t have any current plans to pick up a shop in the central belt, but it’s definitely something I’d like to look at.”
The Reeling festival returns to Rouken Glen Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9 2024.
