Following the announcement this summer of the purchase of two iconic West Coast hotels – The Isles of Glencoe and The Ballachulish – Crieff Hydro, a leading independent hospitality business in Scotland, has announced an additional three signings to its family of hotels: management contracts to operate the Green Hotel in Kinross and Kings House Hotel in Glencoe; and the lease to operate the Peel Café at Glentress in Peebles.
Based in the market town of Kinross, The Green Hotel is made up of its namesake, The Green Hotel, and the adjacent Windlestrae Hotel.
The Green Hotel is a former 18th century coaching inn which catered for passengers travelling between Edinburgh and Perth by stagecoach, and today is a comfortable hotel with 46 rooms, the historic Jock’s Bar, Basil’s restaurant, a variety of meeting rooms and Backstage, one of the region’s most popular live music venues.
Located just across the road is the Windlestrae Hotel, with a further 47 rooms, Monty’s restaurant, Rushes Bar, meeting and event space for up to 120 people as well as a Spa and Leisure Centre. Both hotels are owned by the local Montgomery family, who first purchased the Green Hotel in 1926.
“Having Crieff Hydro manage our hotels is the start of a new chapter,” comments owner Jamie Montgomery. “As well as benefiting from the experience of the management team at Crieff Hydro, I am also pleased to announce that we will be investing a six-figure sum in upgrading and refurbishing both hotels.”
Matthew Garstang, Head of Finance at Crieff Hydro, adds: “Taking these hotels under our management has really highlighted the benefit of being part of a wider group. We have seen significant savings in the purchase price of almost all that the hotel buys, because we are working as one larger collective.
“Already since taking over management at the Green Hotel we have seen savings of around £10,000 a month for that property, allowing us to buy better quality produce or re-invest the savings elsewhere into the hotel.”
Crieff Hydro has also recently added the Kings House Hotel in Glencoe to its now 10-strong group of hotels. Originally a 17th century inn located in the heart of Glencoe, Kings House is widely regarded as a place where time has stood still.
Jessie Cattanach, general manager at Kings House Hotel, says: “It is almost a rarity to see people arriving by car – nearly everyone arrives on foot. With 30,000 walkers on the West Highland Way each year, almost all of them cross the threshold into Kings House as the route passes the front door.
“Some of those are looking for a filling lunch and a pint of something to wash it down, others are bedding down for the night before tackling the Devil’s Staircase the next day to reach Kinlochleven. Either way, Kings House is a welcome sight at the end of another day’s walking.”
The Kings House Hotel was acquired by the neighboring Black Corries Estate two years ago. Over the past six months the management team at Crieff Hydro have been working closely with Bidwells, who have provided interim strategic management for the hotel.
Together the two parties are progressing plans for an ambitious redevelopment which will secure the long term future of this hotel. A brand-new bunk house, with 30 bunks in 10 rooms, opened at the beginning of November, along with The Way Inn, a temporary café and bar to cater for walkers, skiiers and anyone else looking for a refreshment stop.
This will allow the hotel to still cater for guests while it undergoes redevelopment which will enhance the historic nature of the original Inn.
The Peel Café forms part of the popular Glentress forest and is owned by the Forest Enterprise Scotland, an agency of Forestry Commission Scotland.
With 300,000 people coming through Glentress each year – using the extensive mountain biking and walking routes, enjoying the thrill of adventure holiday experience Go Ape, or visiting the Alpine Bikes shop – Peel Café is perfectly suited to offer tasty meals and snacks, ice creams, tea and coffee or soft drinks. Peel Café is open every day except Christmas Day and has extensive seating indoors and out.
Patrick Diack, General Manager at Peebles Hydro, which oversees operations at Peel Café, explains: “Peel Café was an important addition to our existing hotels in Peebles as we know so many of our customers are coming to the area to explore the magnificent beauty of Peebles and the surrounding area.
“We are able to supply fresh cakes and snacks directly from our own bakery at The Park on the High Street in Peebles. I am looking forward to being able to offer more than just a café, and we will be taking bookings for private events in the evening as well as our own program of exciting activities starting with our Santa’s Grotto this Christmas.”
