THE pulling power of St Andrews attracts interest from as far afield as Australia and America, but an accommodation business on the edge of the town has remained in Scottish hands - and well known ones at that. The Old Station Country House, above, has been bought for more than pounds-680,000 by Colin Wiseman from the milk and dairy family.
The property, which has featured in a variety of lifestyle magazines, was developed from an old station house six years ago and is set in 2.5 acres of grounds. Part of the original platform remained and was restored, with the railway theme continuing with a railway carriage converted to two suites. The main house has six en-suite guest bedrooms, lounge, library, conservatory dining room and five-roomed owners accommodation.
Gordon Mair of selling agents Bruce & Co said:
"This is a unique property with each bedroom decorated in a different theme, depicting different countries. A majority of income is based around bed and breakfast business, though evening meals are served on request.
Colliers Robert Barry have completed the sale of half a dozen hotels. One of the most unusual was The Haven in the west coast village of Plockton, which has a feature pipe-organ built into one wall of its dining room. The property, with 15 en-suite rooms, two suites, a lounge bar and two residents' lounges, fetched more than pounds-650,000. It was bought by an experienced licensed trade operator from Lytham St Annes, who plans to extend trade to all year round operation.
Well known East Lothian licensee and restaurateur Jim Findlay, the former owner of The Waterside bistro at Haddington and Drovers Inn at East Linton, has bought the Craig-en-Gelt Hotel in Dunbar for close to pounds-495,000. This fine Edwardian, built of local red sandstone, has open views over sea and golf course, with 12 bedrooms, lounge bar, residents lounge, restaurant, and breakfast room, as well as owners' flat.
A couple from Hertfordshire is moving to Aberdeenshire to take over The Deeside Hotel in Ballater. This is their first venture into the licensed trade.
The property, set in its own garden grounds, has nine bedrooms, residents' lounge, lounge bar, dining room and linked conservatory, plus three-bedroom private flat. It sold for more than pounds-435,000.
In the south-west, CRB has sold the Kelvin House Hotel in Glenluce, midway between Stranraer and Newton Stewart. A couple from Yorkshire, one a very experienced chef, have bought the property off an asking price of pounds-190,000 and plan to extend the restaurant side of the business after a refurbishment.
Blackaddie House Hotel, in unspoilt countryside in the upper reaches of the River Nith, has been sold for more than pounds-400,000. The Nith is one of the principal sporting rivers of Dumfriesshire and the hotel offers a range of both conventional and self-catering facilities for fishermen and other visitors.
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