Historic royal hotel begins a new chapter
Argyll, Scotland – 24, May 2012 – The Village at Machrihanish Dunes officially re-opened the historic Royal Hotel in Campbeltown on Saturday, 12 May 2012. David Southworth and Joe Deitch, owners of Machrihanish Dunes, were on hand to open the doors of this landmark hotel with a private reception followed by a grand fireworks display over Campbeltown Harbour for the community to celebrate!
Built in 1907 by local proprietor Archibald Johnston, The Royal Hotel was designed by renowned architect James Monro of Glasgow, who would later design the Grand Hotel in St. Andrews. The Royal Hotel remained a focal point for many years to come, serving families and friends from all over Campbeltown and the Kintyre Peninsula as a mainstay for weddings, celebrations and its famed Sunday tea.
After years of economic difficulties in the area which led to a slow decline in business, the aging property eventually had to close its doors. In 2008, David Southworth and Joe Deitch purchased both The Ugadale and Royal Hotels, along with the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course, and thus began the development of the Village at Machrihanish Dunes, which includes both hotels and the newly built Ugadale Golf Cottages.
“It was important to both Joe and I to celebrate this momentous occasion with the community that supported us through a painstaking restoration process,” said David Southworth. “The Royal Hotel holds a special place in Campbeltown history. For many, it serves as a celebrated icon where families and friends once celebrated grand occasions. For us, it begins another chapter in our pursuit to make Campbeltown and Machrihanish a world-class destination.”
The New Royal Hotel
Today, The Royal Hotel makes the most of its unmatched waterfront location overlooking Campbeltown Harbour. Guests at The Royal enjoy unforgettable views of the harbour area, with its stone piers and scenic walkways. The hotel features all the contemporary conveniences and amenities you’d expect in a modern luxury accommodation, set in surroundings steeped in old-world elegance. With its 23 sumptuously appointed guest rooms, The Royal is also home to The Black Sheep Pub, named after its famous Hebridean sheep who graze and have graced the grounds of Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course since 2008; and the elegant Harbourview Grille, which is sure to become recognised as one of the finest dining establishments in all of Kintyre.
The Village
The Village at Machrihanish Dunes consists of the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club (Top 100 Course in U.K. & Ireland by Golf World), The Ugadale Hotel, The Ugadale Cottages (Golf Tourism Scotland’s “Small Hotel of the Year,” The Royal Hotel, The Kintyre Club, Serenity Spa, and The Old Clubhouse Pub. The recently opened Ugadale Hotel offers 22 luxurious guest rooms and suites, many overlooking the Atlantic and famed Machrihanish Golf Club. It features a restaurant and bar called The Kintyre Club, the full-service Serenity Spa and a Fitness Centre.
The Investment
In addition to bringing valuable jobs to the area, Southworth has invested over £ 19.3 Million ($30 Million US) to the overall project, along with grants from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) totalling £2.2million, including £886,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding support. In addition, HIE provided a grant totalling £ 509,606 for the development of the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course which opened in 2009. A special grant was also awarded to the Royal Hotel by the Scottish Ministers, through Historic Scotland under the Historic Environment Regeneration Fund and the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project (Argyll & Bute Council)
Douglas Cowan, Highlands & Islands Enterprise Area Manager for Argyll & the Islands, added: “The opening of the fully restored Ugadale Hotel and Royal Hotel marks the completion of the latest phase of investment by Southworth, building on the success of the internationally acclaimed Machrihanish Dunes golf course. The development is playing a key role in repositioning the local economy providing a high quality tourism product to attract new, high spending visitors from around the world. HIE approved £2.2million, including £886,000 from the European Regional Development Fund, to support the redevelopment of the Ugadale and Royal hotels as part of our commitment to the revival of the Kintyre economy, bringing more than £3million to the economy annually. The commitment and investment by Southworth Europe is having a major impact on both the economy and confidence on the Kintyre peninsula and the opening of the Ugadale hotel marks a significant step forward for the area.”
About Southworth
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club and the luxury accommodations in both Machrihanish and Campbeltown, Scotland are managed by Southworth Europe Limited. Southworth Europe Limited is an affiliate of Southworth Development LLC, a privately held company based in Newton, Massachusetts, specializing in the development of residential resort & hospitality branded real estate communities. Through its affiliated companies, Southworth Development is extremely active in the international golf industry.
About Machrihanish Dunes
Scotland’s award-winning seaside resort offering luxurious seaside cottages, the world’s most natural golf course and two, historic luxury hotels. Located on Scotland’s magnificent Argyll coastline, The Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, The Ugadale Hotel, The Ugadale Cottages and The Old Clubhouse Pub are situated in the quaint town of Machrihanish. A mere five miles from Machrihanish in the heart of historic Campbeltown, The Royal Hotel serves as an in-town hotel option for those visiting the Village at Machrihanish Dunes. With a growing collection of accommodations, fine restaurants and lively pubs, The Village at Machrihanish Dunes provides a warm welcome and first-class service to business and leisure travellers alike..
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