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Description

The Melvich Hotel is a traditional Highland Hotel offering an excellent "Home and Income" development opportunity.

DESCRIPTION

The Melvich Hotel is an attractive, traditional, all round Highland Hotel. It is both substantial and impressive with a commanding roadside location on the A836, the main route which traverses the north coast of Scotland. The hotel attracts a wide range of residential trade from three main sources, namely business clientele, sportsmen and tourism.
The nearby UK Atomic Energy Authority facility at Dounreay and the adjacent naval site of HMS Vulcan bring a large number of business travellers to the county throughout the year. On the sporting front the links golfcourse at Reay is a delight for golfers who can easily travel to play at Wick or Thurso courses should they wish a bit of variety. Sutherland is regarded by many fishermen as “the jewel in the crown” due to its excellent wild brown trout fishing, available in an abundance of accessible hill lochs.
Over many years Melvich Hotel has been a favourite of salmon anglers, the local rivers Halladale, Strathy, Forss, Thurso and Naver offering tremendous sport. The nearby RSPB reserve at Forsinard is another popular facility and the locality is rich in birds of prey, sea-birds, waders and many others. Some may be surprised to learn that the area also offers some of the best surfing in Britain.
Several nearby sporting estates offer deer stalking and the opportunity for both walked up and driven shoots, traditionally activities which are undertaken outwith the hotel’s tourist season reducing the effects of seasonality. During the summer months the hotel is particularly busy with tourists enjoying a good volume of regular bookings from inbound travel agents, the guests mainly European. Strong local trade and passing trade add to these business volumes to complete the hotel’s revenue stream.
The Hotel’s Public Bar caters mainly to the local trade whilst meals are served in the attractive Lounge Bar which benefits from open fires and a beautiful seaward vista.The business is currently run by a sole trader and the potential for function trade has been undeveloped. The hotels function suite was once a huge favourite for ceilidhs, weddings and other entertainment events. Rejuvenating this would combine readily with residential guests, casual dining and local trade to further drive this substantial year round business.

Melvich is a popular coastal village with a strong community spirit. It benefits from exceptional coastal views across its own golden beach which merges with the peaty waters of the Halladale River at its estuary. The area supports a wide range of industry which includes fishing, forestry and crofting. The present owner bought the hotel in 1996 and has enjoyed a rewarding and profitable lifestyle during a decade of self-employment in the licensed trade. The vendor is a qualified accountant and was given an opportunity to return to the profession. It is this return to his former vocation that brings the Melvich Hotel onto the market.

THE PROPERTY
The hotel is a detached property of traditional construction. The original building has accommodation arranged over three floors under a pitched slate roof. The bedrooms are located an adjoining “wing” which is of more recent construction and is arranged over two floors. There is a small detached outbuilding which is currently used for storage.

PUBLIC AREAS
The main hotel door enters directly into the Reception Hallway in which the large reception desk is found. To the left is the spacious Residents Lounge with its bright outlook to the front of the building. To the right off reception lies the welcoming Lounge Bar, complete with two open fireplaces, attractive seating and well stocked gantry. It is also at this end of the property, just off reception, that guests enter the accommodation wing. Off the opposite end of the Lounge Bar lies the spacious Function Suite which has the advantage of a purpose built wooden dancefloor and large panoramic picture windows offering exceptional views towards the Pentland Firth and Orkney beyond. A portion of this sizeable function suite is sometimes segregated off to provide additional dining facilities. Hotel guests welcome this option as the area offers exceptional views.The smart Public Bar is well patronised. It offers a wide choice in beer and spirits from an attractive pine panelled servery. A separate Games Room is located off the Bar complete with pool table, darts board and jukebox.

LETTING BEDROOMS
Stairs lead from the Reception Hallway to the hotel’s accommodation wing. This has 14 letting bedrooms, to sleep 28 guests (8 double, 6 twin). These are comfortable, attractively furnished and benefit from electric heating, colour television and tea / coffee making facilities. All of the bedrooms have a full en-suite shower room.

PRIVATE / STAFF ACCOMMODATION
A beneficial feature of the hotel is the extensive range of owners’ accommodation. This comprises of five bedrooms, family bathroom, shower room, laundry room, fitted kitchen, spacious Lounge and storage room. This is supplemented by a further suite of rooms which includes a Lounge, Dining Room, Kitchen and two bedrooms. There is scope to use the latter area as staff accommodation.

SERVICE AREAS
The hotel has a good-sized commercial kitchen with walk-in chill and adequate fridge and freezer capacity. Adjoining this is a still room with wash-up area. The dry goods store is off the still room. Outbuildings adjoining the hotel accommodate a toolshed and further storage. The boiler room is located to the rear of the building housing an oil-fired boiler. An administrative office is conveniently located behind the reception area offering the convenience of direct access to the owners accommodation . There is a beer cellar and further wine and spirits store. The hotel laundry is located in the bedroom wing.

GROUNDS
The Melvich Hotel is a substantial property enjoying a prime site immediately adjacent to the main A836. Attractive grounds, mostly laid to grass complement this desirable business. There is offroad parking for approximately 10 cars and further unrestricted on road parking.

DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
The sale of the hotel offers true potential for new owners. The function suite could be promoted to host entertainment evenings and functions. The currently restricted catering and menu choices could be expanded to support bar lunches, afternoon and high teas. Dining in the evening could also be further developed.

SERVICES
Mains electricity, water and drainage. Oil fired central heating. Propane gas.

LICENCES
The business has a Full Hotel Licence with Regular Extensions.

TRADE
Accounting information will be made available to genuinely interested parties subsequent to formally viewing the hotel.

PRICE
Offers over £350,000 are invited for the heritable
property complete with goodwill and trade contents
(according to inventory), excluding personal items.
Stock at valuation.

DIRECTIONS
Thurso 16 miles, Helmsdale 40, Inverness 104.
From Inverness head north on the A9 to Thurso. From
Thurso take the main A836 coastal road heading west
to Melvich, some 16 miles from Thurso. The hotel is on
the right hand side of the road at the west end of the
village.

VIEWING
All appointments to view must be made through the
vendors selling agents: