A FAMILY’S determination to pull together has helped one of Troon’s best-known businesses survive and thrive during lockdown.

After 13 years owning and running the Station Kiosk, Pamela Main saw the COVID pandemic devastate the business she had poured her heart and soul into.

She said: “Until the COVID crisis forced us into lockdown in March 2020 our customer base had been 80 per cent commuters heading to work, or those travelling for shopping or pleasure. Suddenly everything came to a halt overnight. My business was closed and it looked to have no future.’’

The kiosk was shut for 11 weeks and Pam, whose husband Iain and brother in-law Robert have owned Connor Butchers in Troon’s West Portland Street for many years, admits she was “driving everyone around me crazy”.

To make matters worse, lockdown also threatened the career of Pam’s son Kyle, who had spent all his working life in hospitality, concentrating on front of house and senior management.

Something had to be done. Pam decided to ask Kyle to join her in a new adventure – the launch of an evening takeaway business operating from the kiosk. Kyle jumped at the chance and Scran at the Station was born.

Pam said: “I reinvested the government grants I received into the business and made a few changes to the kiosk to make Scran logistically possible and we launched on November 2 last year.”

She signed up local graffiti artist Scott McAnally to transform the kiosk interior. Scott used to buy his breakfast there on his way to Marr College.

Pam added: “Our ambition can be summed up in our business motto: Junk Food Done Good.

“It became apparent relatively quickly that we were on to something and we had to employ two part-time chefs to help Kyle cope with the demand, which was absolutely amazing and a bit overwhelming. Kyle had a whole new outlook on life and his ambition and drive, combined with the chefs’ knowledge and expertise, have given us new hope for the future.”

“The people of Troon and the surrounding areas have given us amazing support and have really embraced the changes we have made. Without that support, this would never have happened.’’