Historic hotel in 'gateway to the Highlands' to re-open this summer under new ownership
An historic hotel in Callander, Perthshire, is to re-open this summer after being taken over by travel firm Caledonian Travel
An historic hotel in the 'gateway to the Highlands' is to re-open under new ownership.
Callander's Dreadnought Hotel has been taken over by travel firm Caledonian Travel.
The group announced on Monday that it the hotel is the latest property to join the Caledonian Hotel Collection.
As a result of the takeover, the Leny Road hotel will now be known as The Caledonian Thistle Hotel.
The original Dreadnought Hotel was built by the Clan MacNab in 1802 as a hostelry for clansmen travelling north but it was extensively enlarged in 1890.
The new owners are now to embark on a refurbishment of the hotel and is expected to re-open at the end of July.
Announcing the takeover, Caledonian Travel said: 'We're delighted to announce that The Dreadnought Hotel in Callander – known as the gateway to the Highlands – is the latest property to join The Caledonian Hotel Collection. It will now be proudly known as The Caledonian Thistle Hotel.
'Located on Callander's charming high street, this landmark hotel is ideally placed for exploring the area – from the dramatic views of Ben Ledi to the peaceful shores of Loch Lubnaig.
'Inside, you'll find comfortable en-suite bedrooms, cosy lounge spaces, hearty dining, live evening entertainment every night, and that signature Caledonian welcome. Whether you're heading off on an adventure or unwinding with a drink in hand, The Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Callander is a true Highland haven.
'We'll now begin a full refurbishment of both the interior and exterior, with plans to reopen at the end of July. We're also going to be recruiting new members to the team – so watch this space!'
The firm is also offering an introductory offer of a 10-per cent discount on breaks booked by midnight on Sunday, June 15.
The former Dreadnought was hit by a fire back in February 2017. Emergency services raced to the scene to tackle the fire which broke out in staff quarters, behind the main hotel and next to the public car park.
Police probing the cause of the blaze interviewed the two teenagers, a boy and a girl both aged 14, in connection.
Then owner of the hotel, Dayo Ogunyemi said: 'It was the staff quarters at the back. There was nobody hurt. There was nobody there.
'It has not been used for a long time. It wasn't being used for anything.
'Normally it closes in the winter. We always close in October then we open back up in March. Obviously it will be later now.'
In May that same year, Mr Ogunyemi con firmed that it would remain closed for the rest of that year's tourist season.
In August 2018, The Dreadnought was put up for sale for £600,000. At that time, the town's community council said that if no buyer was found, it could potentially consider a community buyout, with a survey to be launched ton gauge public support for the idea.
The hotel was traditionally a popular accommodation for holidaymakers to the scenic town through the busy summer months.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Family sells landmark hotel in popular Scottish town
The sale of the Dreadnought Hotel in Callander, Stirlingshire, to Caledonian Travel was handled by Christie & Co. The hotel has 63 ensuite letting rooms, the MacNab restaurant and bar, a small events room and a beer garden. The previous owners bought the property in 2017 and were selling due to retirement. Tony Spence, associate director at Christie & Co, said: 'We were delighted to act for our clients in the sale of the hotel which now allows them to retire from the hospitality trade. 'This was the second hotel where Christie & Co has acted for the family and we are grateful they had trust in us to deliver. There remains good activity within the market and we would urge any vendors who are considering a sale or purchase to get in touch to discuss further.' READ MORE: Caledonian Leisure, which operates under the Caledonian Travel and UKBreakaways brands, in partnership with its investors, hailed completion of the purchase. The hotel is to be rebranded The Caledonian Thistle Hotel, a name chosen to reflect its 'proud Scottish heritage and the company's ambition to further establish a presence in key Scottish tourism hotspots'. Graham Rogers, managing director at Caledonian Leisure, said: 'After the success of The Caledonian Hotel Collection in Torquay, Blackpool, Scarborough and Arrochar, we're delighted to welcome another hotel to our family. With sector-leading customer review scores and rising demand across our brands, this investment is a key step in strengthening our year-round offering in Scotland.' A 'significant investment' programme is now under way to enhance both the interior and exterior of the property. The hotel will be ready to welcome guests from the end of July, operating 12 months of the year to meet demand from both coach-inclusive and self-drive customers. The refurbishment will deliver upgraded bedrooms, refreshed communal areas and improvements to the entertainment facilities. David McDonald, finance director at Caledonian Leisure, said: 'Callander is a wonderful base for customers looking to explore with so many outstanding and beautiful areas within easy reach of this delightful Scottish town. The locally renowned MacNab's Bar will remain open for everyone, and in a nod to the traditions of the hotel, we'll be renaming the restaurant The Dreadnought Restaurant.' Mr McDonald added: 'Right now, we're actively recruiting local people to deliver exceptional hospitality as we prepare to reopen the hotel this summer after this extensive refurbishment project.' The agent said that 'the property boasts exceptional character throughout, complimenting a traditional Highland interior and stone exterior that can be dated back to the seventeenth century'.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
223-year-old hotel in Stirlingshire to re-open in July after sale to travel firm
The hotel, located in Callander - a popular tourist town in the Trossachs, was sold for an undisclosed price. The Dreadnought Hotel is situated next to the main tourist route leading to Lochearnhead, with Glasgow and Edinburgh 35 and 50 miles away respectively. The current owners bought the property in 2017 and were selling due to retirement, leaving a "well performing business with exceptional capability to extend and renovate", according to Christie's. READ MORE: 'It feels full circle': Outlander star Sam Heughan to make debut in iconic role Caledonian Travel have now added the property to their group in Scotland. The property has a traditional Highland interior and stone exterior that can be dated back to the 17th century. The hotel occupies the McNab restaurant and bar, 61 ensuite letting rooms, a small events room and beer garden. The original hotel was built by the Clan MacNab in 1802 as a hostelry for clansmen travelling north but it was extensively enlarged in 1890. Tony Spence, associate director at Christie & Co said: 'We were delighted to act for our clients in the sale of the hotel which now allows them to retire from the hospitality trade. This was the second hotel where Christie & Co have acted for the family and we are grateful they had trust in us to deliver. "There remains good activity within the market and we would urge any vendors who are considering a sale or purchase to get in touch to discuss further.' Announcing the takeover, Caledonian Travel said: 'We're delighted to announce that The Dreadnought Hotel in Callander – known as the gateway to the Highlands – is the latest property to join The Caledonian Hotel Collection. It will now be proudly known as The Caledonian Thistle Hotel. 'Located on Callander's charming high street, this landmark hotel is ideally placed for exploring the area – from the dramatic views of Ben Ledi to the peaceful shores of Loch Lubnaig." They added: 'We'll now begin a full refurbishment of both the interior and exterior, with plans to reopen at the end of July. We're also going to be recruiting new members to the team – so watch this space!'
The Courier
3 days ago
- The Courier
Historic Callander hotel to reopen under new ownership
A Callander hotel will reopen this summer under new ownership. The Dreadnought Hotel, on Leny Road, has been taken over by The Caledonian Hotel Collection. It will be renamed The Caledonian Thistle Hotel and undergo a full refurbishment. Caledonian Travel, which owns the hotel group, says the new premises will reflect 'the history of the building while adding everything our guests expect from a modern stay'. Improvements are being made to bedrooms, communal spaces and entertainment areas. The Dreadnought Hotel was built in 1802 by the chief of the Clan MacNab. It took the place of Callander's original inn and played an important role in the town's tourism industry. Caledonian Travel describes it as a 'standout property in one of Scotland's most scenic towns'. The company posted on Facebook: 'We're delighted to announce that The Dreadnought Hotel in Callander – known as the gateway to the Highlands – is the latest property to join The Caledonian Hotel Collection. 'It will now be proudly known as The Caledonian Thistle Hotel. 'Located on Callander's charming high street, this landmark hotel is ideally placed for exploring the area – from the dramatic views of Ben Ledi to the peaceful shores of Loch Lubnaig. 'Inside, you'll find comfortable en suite bedrooms, cosy lounge spaces, hearty dining, live evening entertainment every night, and that signature Caledonian welcome. 'Whether you're heading off on an adventure or unwinding with a drink in hand, The Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Callander, is a true Highland haven. 'We'll now begin a full refurbishment of both the interior and exterior, with plans to reopen at the end of July. 'We're also going to be recruiting new members to the team – so watch this space!' Caledonian Travel, a coach short break provider, owns hotels in in Oban, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, as well as in England. The Caledonian Thistle Hotel is open for bookings.
