Islay hotel set to open after major refurbishment
THE Machrie Hotel and Links on Islay is due to reopen later this month following a major extension and refurbishment project.
Seven years after it was bought out of administration by husband and wife team Gavyn Davies and Sue Nye, the hotel has been enlarged, with a contemporary extension added to the original Victorian building; the property has been completely remodelled to offer 47 guest rooms, suites and lodges, as well as a spa with two treatment rooms, a sauna and gym, a private meeting and dining room and a cinema room.
The restaurant, which overlooks the 18th green of the golf course and has a south west-facing terrace with sea views, will major in quality, Scottish produce, with head chef Gordon Wallace a “passionate believer in using the very best ingredients which can be sourced locally”.
The bar, meanwhile, features a range of whiskies, most of which are from Islay’s eight distilleries.
Golf is said to have been played at The Machrie since 1891, with the original course designed by Scottish golfprofessional Willie Campbell.
Now, The Machrie’s links course has been modernised by former European Tour player and Ryder Cup vice-captain DJ Russell, the architect of Archerfield Links. As well as the 18-hole links course, there’s also The Wee Course, which offers six par-three holes, a golf academy with indoor technical suite and covered driving range, a short-game area and a putting course.
Gordon Campbell Gray, founder of Campbell Gray Hotels, which has been appointed to manage The Machrie, said: “Our vision is that it will be everything one would wish for in a hotel on a beautiful Scottish island. It has a fabulous location and has been designed with a great sense of place with, at the same time, many unexpected touches.
“I am really excited to have the opportunity to welcome guests to The Machrie Hotel and Links and equally excited for them to enjoy the magnificent and dramatic landscapes of Scotland.”
