There will be something particularly sweet about the return of Harry Gow to its permanent Fairways shop next week, more than a year after a devastating fire left the popular Inverness bakery facing an uncertain future.

The family bakery will officially reopen its rebuilt premises at Fairways Business Park at 8am on Tuesday 27 October, with free cake waiting for the first 100 customers through the doors.

It marks an important moment for a Highland business that has spent the past 19 months rebuilding following the fire in March 2025.

But while the original shop was lost, Harry Gow never abandoned Fairways or the customers who had made it part of their daily routine.

Instead, the bakery returned in a temporary portacabin, keeping its familiar selection of cakes, pies, rolls and famous Dream Rings available while work continued on a permanent replacement.

For regular customers, that temporary arrangement meant their favourite bakery remained part of the neighbourhood despite everything that had happened.

For the staff, it meant continuing to serve the community while waiting for the day they could finally move back into a proper shop.

That day is now almost here, although the faithful portacabin that kept everything going may be remembered with a little affection.

The reopening will bring the same familiar faces back behind the counter, including Mo and the Fairways team, who have helped maintain the bakery’s connection with customers throughout the disruption.

David Gow said:

“When we saw the damage the fire had caused, it was heartbreaking, but we always knew we wanted to get back to Fairways.

“The portacabin has done us proud and allowed us to keep serving our customers while everything was being rebuilt.

“But there’s something really special about seeing the shop back again.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Mo and the team, and to all the customers who have continued to support us.

“It’s been a long road, but we’re delighted to be opening the doors again, and what better way to celebrate than with some free cake!”

Founded in Inverness in 1979, Harry Gow has become one of the Highlands’ most recognisable family bakeries, with six generations of baking heritage behind the business.

Its Dream Rings have earned a particularly devoted following, while its traditional cakes, breads and savouries remain familiar favourites across its Highland shops.

The company has also been named Scottish Baker of the Year three times, reflecting the reputation it has built over decades.

Earlier this year, Harry Gow expanded its reach by introducing a Sharing Cake Range in selected Asda stores across Scotland.

Yet for all that success, the reopening at Fairways is a reminder that local shops are about more than the products they sell.

They are places where customers recognise the people behind the counter, familiar routines develop and a business becomes part of its community.

That relationship helped sustain the bakery during a difficult period, and next Tuesday offers an opportunity to celebrate its return.

The doors will open at 8am, with the first 100 customers receiving a free cake as a thank you for their support.

And after everything the Fairways team has been through, there can be few better reasons to enjoy a Dream Ring.