Historic hotel on the market
Blairgowrie’s Royal up for grabs amid closure fears
A historic Perthshire hotel has been put up for sale, sparking fears it may close.
The 36-room Royal Hotel is currently owned by the Milton Group and is thought to be on the market for £750,000.
The popular venue, which was used by numerous groups and organisations in the area for regular meetings and events, was also frequented by individuals and families as well as significant numbers of overseas visitors.
However, earlier this year, staff, customers and community groups were left in the lurch following the sudden closure of the Allan Street institution.
More than a dozen employees were told in February that the hotel was to close for three months.
At the time, the owners blamed the “Chinese downturn” for their decision, stating in a post on social media that the hotel would reopen in June.
But the subsequent outbreak of coronavirus in the UK led to a period of lockdown, which saw tourism businesses closed until July.
The Royal Hotel did not reopen and staff were instead told the premises was up for sale – despite a handwritten note on the door saying it was due to open again on September 1.
The news was met with disappointment by local councillor for Blairgowrie and the Glens Caroline Shiers.
She said: “This is concerning, although possibly not unexpected, news.
“The Royal Hotel is a landmark building in the town and I would hope that a new future can be found for it very soon.
“It has been home to many groups such as the Rotary Club and others for many years.”
Anna Bowman, chair of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Business Association, added: “It is always sad to see a business close – in this instance it is going against the local trend as our local M&Co is to stay open and we’ve had The Green Way and Adventure Into Books open in the town recently.
“In addition, The Dome restaurant has reopened with new owners and a shop on Allan Street is now selling items for babies and young children, filling a gap in the market.
“The decision to close the Royal is part of an international business’s decision.
“Blairgowrie is such a thriving town and with the Westpark development coming, hopefully it won’t be too long before someone recognises the attraction and business potential of a hotel in a small town centre.”
The owners of the Royal Hotel were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.