Northern Irish private investment company Wirefox has acquired the Ardgowan Hotel through its Marram Hotels business, expanding the leisure portfolio to Scotland.
The privately owned St Andrews property was acquired from the McLachlan family on Monday (24th October) for an undisclosed sum.
Centrally located within the heart of St Andrews, close neighbours include the renowned University of St Andrews and world-famous Old Course. The group plans to operate the three-star rated Ardgowan Hotel in its current form, with the existing team in situ.
The purchase follows the acquisition of one of Northern Irelands best loved hotels, The Bushmills Inn, earlier this year, making this the second property in the Marram Hotels portfolio.
Housed in a B-listed Georgian townhouse, designed by Scottish architect George Rae, the hotel comprises of 29 comfortable en suite bedrooms, with a further seven en suite rooms in a section of the property dating back to 1820. The hotel’s Playfair’s Restaurant and Steakhouse enjoys an excellent reputation, having been awarded an AA Rosette every year since 2015, alongside the hotel’s increasingly popular bar and outdoor terrace.
Bought by Roy and Eliza McLachlan in 2003, the business is now run by the second generation of McLachlan family – brother and sister, Duncan (Director of Catering and Head Chef) and Rachel (Director of Marketing and Business Development).
The disposal was conducted on a confidential basis through Brian Sheldon, Regional Director at specialist hotel property agents, Christie & Co, who acted on behalf of the McLachlan’s. Brian comments:
Wirefox was advised by Belfast-based Davidson McDonnell Solicitors in relation to the acquisition, with the McLachlan family seeking counsel from leading Scottish law firm, Thorntons Law LLP.
