Historic hotel for sale
Multi-use facility idea put forward
One of Callander’s best-known hotels has been put up for sale for £600,000.
The 61-bedroom Dreadnought , in Leny Road – which shut in February last year following a fire – was placed on the market in June by commercial real estate service.
The original Dreadnought Hotel was built by the Clan MacNab in 1802 as a hostelry for clansmen travelling north but it was extensively enlarged in 1890.
It is constructed of stone under slate roofs, with accommodation on the ground, first and second floors.
Plans had previously been prepared – but not formally submitted – for the development of 21 flats alongside the hotel building.
The owner is seeking offers around £595,000 plus VAT.
The town’s community council say that a new owner has to be found or the possibility of a community buyout of the facility would have to be explored.
Callander Community Council chairman, Richard Johnson, said: “We hope the sale of the building will attract a new owner with plans to restore it as a hotel, but they will need deep pockets to bring it up to a high quality facility.
“While this is our current preferred option, if a buyer is not found we have to consider whether a community management organisation could restore and operate the building.
“This would need a comprehensive business plan to be prepared which had a convincing and financially secure plan for the future.
“It would need the full support of the community but a management structure which was led by professionals with no long term liability on the community.
“At this early stage there appear to be many possibilities to include in a multi–purpose facility.
“It could continue as a reduced size hotel, rooms could be converted to affordable flats for key workers and members of the community and it could have facilities for child care and a nursery.
“In addition we need both a venue for a new visitor information centre and a digital/business hub mentioned in the City Region Deal, a heritage centre has been needed for decades and also a functions venue.”
A fire ripped through the staff quarters, behind the main hotel and next to the public car park in February 2017. The hotel has been closed since then as a result of significant damage.
Around 27 firefighters spent almost six hours at the scene.
Nobody was injured and a boy and a girl, both aged 14, were reported in connection with the blaze.
Owner, Dayo Ogunyemi, had initially hoped to have the hotel back open by last August but he told the Observer in May 2017: “It will not open again this season.”
“Normally it closes in the winter. We always close in October then open up in March. It will be later now.”
The hotel was popular amongst travelling coach parties during the busy summer months.