Perthshire Advertiser

Brewery’s setback for bedrooms plan

Fire at Loch Earn Brewery puts visits on hold

- Melanie Bonn

Plans to imminently offer hotel accommodat­ion at a brewery on Loch Earn have been dashed by a fire, which caused extensive smoke damage to the revamped building.

While the cider-making facility of Arran Brewery’s lochside site escaped the fire on Wednesday, the company had to temporaril­y close the bars, restaurant and coffee shop at the visitor centre. And the bedrooms in what was formerly the Drummond Hotel will not be available now until smoke damage is repaired.

Later this month Arran’s Loch Earn Brewery Hotel and Visitor Centre in St Fillans was due to throw open rooms for its visitors to stay in.

But a fire caused by a faulty extractor fan lead to considerab­le damage, meaning the hotel will not be opening its accommodat­ion until next summer now.

The fire started in a bathroom when the fan overheated. Fire services were promptly on the site and dealt with the fire.

No one was injured but considerab­le damage was caused by smoke.

Arran’s managing director Gerald Michaluk said: “I am happy no one was hurt and I want to thank the fire

The Arran Brewery base in St Fillans service for their prompt response and action.

“Literally just a week away from opening our first phase of rooms, this is not good news.

“Our cider production facility was not effected and is still on schedule to start production when apples

No one was injured in the blaze but there was considerab­le smoke damage

become available in the coming months.

“We are still assessing the extent of the damage, but it has set back our plans and realistica­lly it will be 2018 before we can open the accommodat­ion.”

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Setback
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Damage

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