Historic A-listed tower set to become luxury home
A LUXURY Scottish hideaway used by top celebrities – and a resident ghost – is to be turned into the ultimate des res home.
Highland Council has approved plans to transform Ackergill Tower at Wick in Caithness into a private holiday home for an American millionaire, despite concerns its loss will harm the local economy.
The 15th Century tower has been a hotel for about 30 years - hosting exclusive gatherings and celebrity guests in that time. The A-listed fortress home has played discreet host to Hollywood veterans such as Jack Nicholson and Michael Douglas, as well as British celebrities Twiggy and Jeremy Irons.
Richard Branson, Billy Connolly, Phillip Schofield and the cast of popular TV show The Only Way Is Essex have also been guests.
Schofield got married at the venue in 1992 and the popular TV presenter has also named Ackergill Tower as one of the places where he would spend his dream 24 hours.
It served as a popular wedding venue for many others and has been promoted to tourists using the North Coast 500 route as “one of the finest hotels in the Highlands”.
However, owners Clarenco placed it on the market in 2015, and last year slashed its asking price from
£4.5 million to £3.9m as they grew desperate to offload the business.
Ackergill Tower was abruptly shut last month, leaving 40 employees jobless before Christmas and ruining scores of festive breaks.
Clarenco insisted the business would reopen in March.
That was despite American philanthropist Betsee Parker lodging an application with Highland Council to change the use of the building from a hotel to a private home. Clarenco chief executive, Suzanne Hurndall, has now confirmed that will not happen.
She said: “It is with regret that I can confirm that a transfer of ownership is imminent and unfortunately Ackergill Tower will no longer be operating as a hotel.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff and suppliers who have worked with and for the Tower over the years.”
Wick and East Caithness councillor Raymond Bremner described the move as “a blow to the local economy”.