The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Drop in sales for kingdom hospitality business
Family firm has made several upgrades to hotel and leisure park
A Fife hotel and holiday park operator saw sales fall by almost 10% last year in a competitive marketplace.
Pettycur Bay Holiday Park Limited’s operation includes a lodge and caravan park, The Bay Hotel, on-site restaurants and leisure facilities.
It also operates Kinghorn Harbour Holiday Park. Newly filed accounts show the business recorded sales of £5.1 million for the year ending February 28, a drop from £5.7m last year.
Pre-tax profits fell from £1.1m to £812,000 last year.
Director Alan Wallace said: “We are very pleased with last year’s trading.
“We would be very reluctant to attribute the slight drop in revenues to anything specific, although obviously Brexit uncertainty is affecting everything and consumer confidence is lower for everyone than we would like.”
The family also conduct a holiday home sales operation which Mr Wallace said had “held its own in a competitive market sector”.
He added: “Having recently acquired our VisitScotland four star status for the Bay Hotel and refurbished our Horizons Restaurant and Waterfront Bar we are in a very healthy position for a future upturn.”
Mr Wallace, who operates the firm with his father Thomas and brother Tommy, said the family had made continuous investments in the estate.
“We started off as a caravan park with good on-site facilities, adding The Bay Hotel nine years ago,” he added.
“We quickly realised that the location was so fantastic and a year-round pull that customers would want to consider owning a holiday home here and we started offering luxury caravan holiday homes for purchase.
“It has become even more popular in the last few years, with buyers keen to invest their money in holiday homes in proven locations.
“The staycation is still strong, with many older people keen to protect their nest eggs.”
The firm has also recently upgraded its swimming pool and function suite.
“The reception area is the next public area we want to upgrade, and then we will have finished, effectively creating a modern leisure business which meets the needs and desires of today’s customers,” Mr Wallace added.
“All of our investment in the hotel and business generally over the past 10 years has been worth it.
“Next year our annual caravan show will celebrate a 30-year milestone which is a major achievement.”
During the financial year the business employed an average of 65 staff.
The company’s net assets increased from £12.2m to £12.7m at the year end.