Gatehouse is a small town with a relatively wide catchment area. It is also a
significant tourist
attraction within the Stewartry. There are a number of shops within the centre, the largest of
which contains a small supermarket operated as a Spar franchise, a small post office, a
restaurant, gifts, crafts, toys and a ladies boutique. There is also a bespoke kilt maker within
the premises with a small workshop and sales counter. The property is two storey built on a
sloping site with the supermarket operating on the lower ground floor and the other uses on
the upper ground floor. The building is substantially larger than the proposed enterprise
centre. It is also privately owned and operated. The community have no involvement in the
ownership or operation of the enterprise however the fact that it is a successful enterprise
means that it can be used as a comparable model. The varied mix of businesses provides a
good example of what can work in a rural, tourist rich environment.
