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The school was built in 1875 and the children of John o' Groats were taught here until 1974, when the school closed and the remaining pupils transferred to the nearby Canisbay school. The school then became a successful candle factory and showroom, now operating at John o' Groats harbour, before becoming a café and craft workshop. After the café closed, the building stood empty for nearly two years before being taken over by a mother and son team from England who spent some time deciding what to do with all the space they had acquired. Four years on and the Schoolhouse Restaurant was born.
| Eventually, there will be a picture here! | Ursula Shaw was born in Staffordshire just before the Second World War. She spent most of her life in Staffordshire, running her own highly successful catering business for seventeen years. A change of circumstances saw her gain both bachelors and masters degrees and a move to Kent, where she took up teaching for ten years. She moved to Caithness in 2002. |
| Her son, David, was also born in Staffordshire in the late sixties, but took a very different career path. Gaining a degree in chemistry, he spent ten years with the Ministry of Defence in Kent. Upon being made redundant, he got a job in Essex, but the daily commute from Kent proved too much and, in 2002, he moved up to Caithness with his mother. | Eventually, there will be a picture here! |
But there is much more to the operation of the restaurant. The help and support of local people and businesses has been crucial to our getting the restaurant off the ground. We would like to thank
Carl and Anne from Riverside Replicas, Thurso, who helped us decide on and supplied all our furniture
Everyone at Bridgend Building Supplies and Allans of Gillock for their boundless patience
Billy and Julie Sinclair, for all their help and support at critical times
Mr and Mrs Harrold, our butchers in Thurso, who's advice has been spot on, every time
Mr Bond of Halkirk, for his invaluable help with all our electrical requirements
David, our long suffering builder and plumber
Everyone else who has given us such amazing encouragement, practical help and essential advice
But, most of all, we would like to thank Johan Sinclair, for her non-stop belief in us and her ever present humour which has carried us through all the stress and without whom, the restaurant would never have opened.