Highland Coast Hotels has added its eighth property to its portfolio with a new site in Inverness.
The four-star Lochardil House will join seven existing properties across the north Highlands.
The Victorian mansion is set in “idyllic” gardens and features 28 guest rooms, including a choice of suites, family rooms, deluxe doubles and classic singles. A dedicated wedding and meeting space can host between 10 and 200 people.
The restaurant and bar will be open to residents and the local community for lunch and dinner seven days a week, bringing a new offering to the area, and a focus on local and seasonal menus.
The Lochardil House development will see the creation of over 40 hospitality jobs in the Highland capital.
Highland Coast Hotels is also planning to establish Lochardil House as a local community hub, “providing a warm welcome for everyone to enjoy entertaining with family and friends, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions”.
Robert Ratcliffe from the Highland Coast Hotels’ Dornoch property, The Royal Golf, has been appointed as the new general manager of Lochardil House.
Guy Crawford, CEO of Highland Coast Hotels, said: “This is a really exciting milestone for Highland Coast Hotels. Lochardil House is our first hotel in Inverness and is also part of our ongoing investment and commitment to community-led hospitality in the north Highlands.
“We carefully selected this traditional and imposing Highland house to complement our existing hotel collection. It offers exactly the right kind of special charm, authenticity and proximity to the city centre that we were looking for. It’s also conveniently located at the gateway to the north Highlands and the starting point for the world-famous North Coast 500.”
He added: “We look forward to welcoming overnight guests to Lochardil House Hotel, as well as establishing the venue as a local community hub with a warm welcome for everyone to enjoy great food, drink and hospitality.
“Our latest investment in Inverness is testament to our confidence in the potential of the Highland tourism and hospitality industry, which has faced a number of unprecedented economic challenges over the last few years. As well as helping to grow the city’s tourism economy, we also hope to create lasting careers in hospitality that will benefit the wider local community.”