The Kintyre Forum

Looks like it is having a make-over as viewed on the web cam.Is it just exterior or total refurbishment?

Total refurb, the interiors been taken back to the walls

Yes, construction on the restoration of the Ugadale and Royal Hotels is well underway with completion slated for the end of 2011 and a grand opening in early 2012. Funding towards the project was provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) with further funding committed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative*.

The Royal Hotel has 23 rooms featuring water views, fine dining restaurant & bar and a waterfront pub overlooking Campbeltown Harbour. The Ugadale Hotel features 22 guestrooms and suites combining modern amenities with historic charm, elegant dining room & bar, and world-class spa services.

*Grant from Scottish Ministers, through Historic Scotland under the Historic Environment Regeneration Fund of National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Here are some images of the proposals showing the plans of the four floors inside plus a couple of sketches of the proposed rooms and bar. Very nice indeed.

It all looks very impressive and it will be wonderful to have that building open again. But there doesn't appear to be a function room for large weddings and suchlike which is a shame. I think previously the function room may have been on the first floor which is going to be all bedrooms.

Looks fantastic and great to see works started on this when in town today. Great buzz about the town today too!

Are they building up infrastructure for bringing The Open to Machrihanish

Our kids at school have tickets to the Open and I couldn't believe the THOUSANDS of folk in Sandwich today so it would definitely be a money spinner!
Although, never mind the golf, the ' world-class spa services' sound fabulous!!!!

jolyjacken did you copy and paste maganru's post?

But yeah there doesnt seem to be any function rooms for weddings etc. Perhaps the owners are not looking to cater for that type of business. If they arent, then i hope they realise the amount of income they would be losing through out the entire year as im sure if this is for "golfers" then business would be more seasonal than most other places.

smokynuk wrote:jolyjacken did you copy and paste maganru's post?

But yeah there doesnt seem to be any function rooms for weddings etc. Perhaps the owners are not looking to cater for that type of business. If they arent, then i hope they realise the amount of income they would be losing through out the entire year as im sure if this is for "golfers" then business would be more seasonal than most other places.

My thoughts exactly smoynuk, and will the restaurant be open to locals, or just for residents?

It would make sense for them to open the restaurant and bar up to the public. They'd be stupid not too. In fact id go as far to say that during the winter months the local trade would be a crucial lifeline for them to keep the business open.

If the Royal was looking at regularly attracting functions like weddings and funeral receptions they'd just take local trade away from other hotels and that might do the town few favours.

I'm sure they've done their sums based on a certain rate of occupancy. The last time I was on the plane down, about a month ago, there were six people on board who were heading down for a golfing weekend.

The whole business case for Machrihanish Dunes and the associated developments is based on bringing more vistors to the area rather than getting the people who might have come already to stay somewhere else.

I'm sure the bar and restaurant will be open to everyone and not just residents. It would be a real shame though if anyone in the town judges its success according to the traditional role of the main hotels in the town. The Royal and the Ugadale have the potential to bring something new to the area without harming anyone else.