All lights on the night

Hotel switches on its £20k Christmas illuminations

Broughty Ferry hotel, bar and restaurant The Fort has seen customers flocking through its doors since it turned on its illuminations.

And the latest addition to the hotel — the Oor Wullie statue Night on the Town — proved one of the star attractions at the launch event.

Owner John Black said: “We had a great turn out for the official launch.

“The kids who were there seemed to love it.

“There was a bit of apprehension about getting everything set up but it couldn’t have gone any better.”

The impressive display took a day to set up but John said next year will be a lot easier now that the fittings are attached to the building.

He said: “It is basically like a big Meccano set so we will be able to take everything down ourselves.

“I’m delighted at how everything has turned out. It has been a long time in the planning.”

John joked that the lights might even be seen from space — but he has ensured they won’t be having an impact on the hotel’s electricity bill.

He added: “They are all LED lights. They are very low power and we have them running on a timer.”

John hopes to be part of the official Broughty Ferry lights switch-on next year.

He added: “We weren’t part of the official lights switch-on in the Ferry but we are hoping to bring it round to Fort Street next year.

“We will be having a meeting with the community council and the council to see if we can close off Fort Street and bring the carnival right round.

“It is certainly our intention to be a part of the lights switch-on.

“The launch has been a great start to the festive season and I hope the punters enjoy it.”

THE big switch-on at a Dundee hotel which spent £20,000 on giant Christmas decorations couldn’t have gone any better, according to its owners.

The Fort in Broughty Ferry has spent £20,000 on its external illuminations, which have now been switched on for the first time.