A HIGHLAND hotels company which was established a year ago with the acquisition of four businesses along the North Coast 500 route has added the Plockton Inn to its portfolio.
Highland Coast Hotels acquired the 14-bedroom inn and adjoining seafood restaurant in the Wester Ross village of Plockton from Kenny and Mary Gollan and Susan Trowbridge, who have owned the business for the past 25 years.
The company, which acquired the Kylesku Hotel and nearby Newton Lodge in the far west Highlands, the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch and the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora last spring, said it will retain and add to the inn’s 30-strong team, and plans to carry out a “substantial refurbishment” of the property this winter.
In line with Highland Coast Hotels’ focus on the communities in which it operates, it plans to establish a community liaison group in Plockton which it said will act as a forum for locals to give feedback on the group’s plans. The company will also operate its Highland Coast Hotels Community Card for anyone living within a 15-mile radius of the Plockton Inn; the scheme gives cardholders a 30% discount in its restaurants and bars all year round, and a 50% discount on an overnight stay at any hotel from October to March inclusive.
David Whiteford, chairman of Highland Coast Hotels, said: “It’s a daunting prospect to be picking up the baton from Kenny and Mary Gollan and Susan Trowbridge, who have nurtured and developed the hotel into such a landmark in this beautiful part of the world.
“However, with a clear focus on working closely with the local communities around our properties, and investing back into the local economy, we very much hope we can add even further value to the hotel and the surrounding area.
“We will continue to operate the hotel on a year-round basis, and expect to create further permanent employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly through our support of local producers and activity providers.
“Whilst it’s early days, we have exciting plans for the hotel which we anticipate will undergo a substantial refurbishment this coming winter.”
Kenny Gollan, who has co-owned the Plockton Inn for the past 25 years, said the business has been a “source of huge satisfaction and pride to us”.
“We have also been very mindful of ensuring that we only sell the hotel to a company that we believe share our values and will carry on the hard work we have personally invested over the years,” he said.
“We are delighted to be selling to Highland Coast Hotels and, from our dealings with the senior team, we believe they will build on our legacy and we wish them every success in taking the Plockton Inn on the next stage of its journey.
“We also very much see that the opportunities for our team will be opened up by being part of a larger organisation, and one that clearly respects the importance of ‘community’, understands this part of the world, and is very focused on supporting the local economy and the broader environmental agenda.”
