As rumoured back at the start of the year, Andy Murray has indeed now purchased the Cromlix House Hotel near his home town of Dunblane, at a price of around £1.8 million.
The Victorian mansion will be refurbished to five star standards and is expected to re-open next spring in time for the Ryder Cup that is being played nearby – and which should ensure a flying start for its new owner and management.
The refurbished hotel is scheduled to reopen next spring ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup, which is being staged a short drive away at Gleneagles.
Cromlix House has 14 bedroom suites, a chapel, reception hall, two drawing rooms, conservatory, dining room, library and meeting rooms and is set in 50 acres of woodlands and gardens with a trout loch. Its wedding reception business should quickly revive once the refurbishment is complete.
The hotel is also expected to feature a Chez Roux restaurant when it opens.
Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI) has been appointed to manage Cromlix House on behalf of Murray.