Shock at Glenisla Hotel’s sudden closure.

Hotel forced to stop trading at weekend and staff laid off

A popular hotel on the Angus/Perthshire border has closed suddenly, with the loss of half a dozen staff and the cancellation of dozens of bookings.

The circumstances behind the closure of the Glenisla Hotel are now in the hands of solicitors, but the owner of the former coaching inn said he had “no option” but to shut the doors on Sunday in what he described as a “very regrettable” situation.

London-based Bruce Swan had invested significantly in the hotel since purchasing it a few years ago and the premises were run by a local couple.

Mr Swan was a silent partner in the management set-up for the business, but following an apparent breakdown in that relationship was informed that the couple intended to leave the hotel.

He said that without access to the bookings log he had no option but to shut the business, which has six bedrooms.

The hotel employs six full or part-time staff and nine casual workers, all of whom have been laid off.

A notice posted on the door of the hotel read: “It is with deep regret and sadness, due to circumstances beyond our control, Glenisla Hotel has had to stop trading from July 29. We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for your support over the last three years. Any enquiries please email glenislahotelenquiries@gmail.com.”

Mr Swan said a number of reservations had been made through the bookings.com website and he had been able to cancel those.

“I’ve contacted who I could, but I have been left without access to emails or booking records and I am just disappointed in the way this has all happened,” he said.

“I don’t have a licence to operate a hotel so I had no choice but to take the course of action that I have done.

“My main concern is to make sure that people do not lose out. I have cancelled the bookings which I have been able to trace and any deposits will be refunded but without having access to any emails I cannot be sure how many others there are and that is why the email address has been set up for people to make contact so we can get this sorted out.”

He said it is likely that the premises will be put on the market. gbrown@thecourier.co.uk

I’ve contacted who I could, but I have been left without access to emails or booking records. BUSINESS PARTNER BRUCE SWAN

The six-bedroomed hotel on the Angus/Perthshire border has closed its doors.