Village shop may be part of hotel revamping plan
The refurbishment of the Sannox Bay Hotel may have an added benefit for residents as plans lodged with North Ayrshire Council include a village shop.
The full planning application by the new owners, the Real Dragon’s Den, includes the refurbishment and alteration and partial change of use of the hotel which has been closed for two years.
Plans, first revealed by the Banner last April, include alterations which will change the accommodation type to more of a self-catering nature and will bring the hotel up to date with more modern interior and furnishings.
Overhaul
The refurbishment will also include an overhaul of the roof along with a substantial upgrade to the damp-proofing and insulation of the building to bring it up to modern standards.
The kitchen and restaurant of the hotel will also be upgraded and the large conservatory at the front of the building will be converted into the owner’s accommodation. Special attention will also be put into ensuring that the building is accessible for people with disabilities or mobility issues.
In addition, the plans include a small village shop which will stock essentials items such as bread, milk, newspapers and groceries and an online offering will help to boost its sales.
A spokesman from the Real Dragon’s Den said: ‘Our group of friends have reopened many closed shops and made many successes.
‘If the overheads are kept right down and the shop managed well – plus local folk and visitors use it – then it will be viable. The saving grace for many shops we have helped reopen is the internet. The general retail element (customers through the front door) will help pay the overheads such as electricity/telephone/wages. If you add some internet retail into the mix, this can mean the difference between being viable or not.
‘There is only one way to find out: open the hotel shop for a trial six months. If it is utilised and supported by local folk, then we will keep it going. If not, then it shall have an interesting, real-life lesson to study and learn from.’
The Scottish company specialises in bringing closed businesses back to life and out of its 27 successful projects completed over its 20-year existence so far, the Sannox Bay Hotel is the fifth hotel project.
The application is currently under consideration by planning officials and neighbour notifications have been issued to four properties within 20 metres of the boundary site.