Last stop at the Station Hotel
Owner is willing to sell iconic building
Last- ditch efforts are underway to sell a crumbling landmark hotel before it is too late.
Discussions have begun aimed at flogging the once iconic Station Hotel in Ayr.
Its owner is willing to sell but only if the price is right, the Post understands.
The future of the building is of concern to South Ayrshire Council and Network Rail because it houses Ayr train station.
A dangerous building notice was slapped on it by the council and Network Rail has had to carry out emergency repairs to protect the line.
A source told the Post: “The owner is willing to sell now for the right offer. It has to be a high value. If the window of opportunity is missed - it could be left to wrack and ruin. It will start to fall down and it could be too late. The council need to step in and help.”
Malaysian businessman Eng Huat Ung owns the Victorian building, which he bought in 2010 for £ 750,000.
The hotel, which was erected in 1885, has been closed since 2013 and has become increasingly rundown.
Councillor Brian McGinley wants the shameful blight brought back to life and welcomes efforts to save it.
He said: “The staus quo can’t continue. I want people with money to invest in the Station Hotel.
“We need to move forward and attract investment to make it feasible.”
He urges Ayr Renaissance to step in and help with the rescue.
One of his suggestions is to reopen it as a hotel and conference centre with a bar - modelled on the Central Hotel in Glasgow.
The Station Hotel has blighted the entrance to the town via Holmston since its closure.
In 2015, the owners undertook building work to secure it - after the council’s building department got in touch.
Network Rail told the Post in the past it was monitoring the Grade 2 structure to “prevent further deterioration.”