Why Andy Murray’s loss-making hotel is a labour of love

GUTSY Andy Murray, who is battling to keep playing tennis till the summer, is facing a second fight — to keep his hotel business in the black.

The sports hero’s hospitality firm has just revealed that it lost nearly £284,000 last year.

Double Wimbledon champion Sir Andy, 31, bought the 15-room Cromlix House Hotel near his home town of Dunblane in 2013 and held his wedding reception there in 2015.

His father married his long-term girlfriend at the venue in 2016.

A spokesman for Murray tells me: ‘Profit was never Andy’s motivation for investing in Cromlix. The principal aim of this significant, long-term and continued commitment is to give back to his home community. Since opening, the hotel has outperformed all expectations, employing around 70 people, more than half of whom are local residents.

‘The accounts represent one part of the Cromlix business, which has made a small profit in the past year.

‘Overall, we are absolutely delighted with the performance of Cromlix and its impact on the local community.’

Murray has spent £ 4 million refurbishing the venue, which has a restaurant created by celebrity chef Albert Roux.

The company accounts for Cromlix LLP were signed off by Murray’s wife, Kim, 31. It is owned by Sir Andy, his wife and his mother, Judy, 59, and lost £167,000 the previous year.

The latest accounts state: ‘ At the year end, the LLP made a loss of £283,686 . . . [It] is dependent on the support of the members to continue as a going concern. This support has been confirmed as being in place.’

Sir Andy’s other business, Cromlix House Hotel Limited, his property management company, owes creditors £7.194 million, but has assets of £7.232 million — a surplus of £38,000.

But since the sportsman is worth £83 million, he can probably afford to continue to finance his role as a local benefactor.