Demand for hospitality businesses stays strong
DEMAND for hospitality businesses in the Highlands remains strong – and is expected to continue that way in the months ahead, with the popularity of the North Coast 500 and Loch Ness credited with contributing to the region’s appeal.
Inverness-based property firm ASG Commercial said licensed and hospitality businesses are continuing to attract a high level of interest from local, national and international prospective buyers.
And although the market is said to have experienced a slight slowdown amid the political uncertainty and general election at the end of 2019, the start of 2020 has seen no shortage of activity.
“January started on a boom and we saw a wide number of enquiries coming in for our business in the first couple of weeks of the year,” said Jackie MacGregor, marketing director at ASG Commercial.
“We are confident that the Highlands will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Among the hospitality businesses recently sold by ASG are the Crown Court Hotel in Inverness. The property, which changed hands for an undisclosed sum, is due to be refurbished by its new owners.
Plockton Shores – a 55-cover licensed cafe and restaurant in Plockton, near Kyle of Lochalsh – also recently changed hands in a deal brokered by ASG.
And the property firm currently has a number of Highland hospitality businesses on its books, including the Highland Getaway Inn in Kinlochleven (pictured above).
On the market with a price tag of offers over £895,000, the Highland Getaway Inn has been owned by the same family since 1986 and is described as a “strong and sustainable” year-round business.
The property, which dates from the early 1900s, comprises six letting rooms and the recently-refurbished Balcony Bar; there’s also three-bedroom owner’s accommodation.
ASG said the inn has an “envious trading location” within the heart of the village, which is the penultimate stop on the West Highland Way.
